Vocabuild: An Accessible Augmented Tangible Interface for Gamified Vocabulary Learning of Constructing Meaning

Abstract

Vocabulary acquisition in early education often relies on rote memorization and passive screen-based tools, which can fail to engage students kinesthetically and collaboratively. This paper introduces Vocabuild, an augmented tangible interface designed to transform vocabulary learning into an active, embodied, and playful experience. The system combines physical letter blocks with a projection-augmented surface. As children physically construct words with the blocks, the system provides real-time, dynamic feedback, such as displaying corresponding images and animations, thus helping them construct semantic meaning. Deployed in a classroom context, our gamified approach fosters both individual exploration and peer collaboration. A user study conducted with elementary school children demonstrates that our tangible interface leads to higher engagement, increased collaboration, and a more positive attitude towards learning compared to traditional methods. Our contributions are twofold: (1) the design and implementation of Vocabuild, a projection-augmented tangible system that transforms vocabulary learning into an embodied and collaborative activity; and (2) empirical findings from a classroom study showing that our tangible approach significantly increases engagement, peer collaboration, and positive learning attitudes compared to traditional methods.