The Effect of Text-tracking Design on 4 th Graders’ Reading of e-Books

Abstract

This study examined the impact of e-book text-tracking design on 4 th graders’ (ten-year-old children’s) learning of six major classes of nutrients . The e-books used in this study were created with Adobe Flash CS 5.5 and Action Script 3.0. This study was guided by two main questions: 1) Is there any difference in learning achievement ( recall and transfer ) between groups with different e-book text-tracking designs? 2) Is there any difference in learning motivation (attention, confidence and relevance) between groups with different e-book text-tracking designs? This study was an experimental design where the independent variable was text-tracking design for e-books: one was word-based tracking and the other was line-based tracking. A sample of thirty 4 th graders participated in the study and participants were randomly assigned into these two groups. They were asked to do a pre-test first, and then they read their assigned e-books for twenty minutes. After they finished reading, they were given a post-test and motivation survey. The result s showed that students in the line-based tracking design group performed better in recall scores and confidence . This study hoped to contribute to e-book design principles for young learners and serve as a reference for elementary school teachers and e-book publishers.