The Effectiveness of a Tablet Computer-aided Intervention Program for Improving Reading Fluency

Ahmet Bilal Özbek,Alev Girli

doi:10.13189/ujer.2017.050508

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a tablet computer-aided intervention program for improving reading fluency. It also investigates the opinions of students and parents about this intervention by using skill- and performance-based techniques, which have been investigated qualitatively. Three students with a learning disability who are in the third or fourth grades participated in the study. The multiple baselines across participants design which is one of the single-subject experimental models has been used as an experimental design and results are presented with graphics. The findings show that the tablet computer-aided intervention program improved the reading fluency of the students with a learning disability. According to the qualitative data, the students' views about the tablet computer-aided reading fluency intervention were generally positive, indicating that this study was fun and motivated them to study. Although the parents had concerns that studying with a tablet could be perceived as a means of entertainment, they also thought the intervention was effective and wanted their children to have access to a tablet computer for educational purposes.

Highlights

IntroductionChildren start to use these devices from a very early age, with the time they spend looking at a screen outweighing their experiences with printed materials [1]
In today’s world, mobile devices are everywhere
The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a tablet computer-aided reading fluency intervention, which contains skill- and performance-based techniques on the reading fluencies of third and fourth grade students with a learning disability

Summary

Introduction

Children start to use these devices from a very early age, with the time they spend looking at a screen outweighing their experiences with printed materials [1]. As a consequence of the Project Fatih educational technology movement in Turkey, schools are using technological devices, such as smart boards and tablet computers [2]. Considering the principle of ‘equality of opportunity,’ students with special needs should benefit from all the new technological facilities to the same extent as their peers without special needs. To achieve this goal, new studies about technology use in special needs education are required

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