Effectiveness of Educational Technology Applicaitons for Struggling Readers in Secondary Grades: A Best-Evidence Synthesis

• In Event: Roundtable Session 26
  In Roundtable Session: The Effects of Technology Integration in Literacy Instruction and Assessment

Abstract

This article systematically reviews research on the effectiveness of educational technology applications for struggling readers in secondary grades. A total of 20 high quality studies were included. Findings indicate that educational technology applications produced a positive and moderate effect for struggling secondary readers (ES=+0.25). The majority of the studies were evaluations of two comprehensive models READ 180 and Voyager Passport, with an overall effect size of +0.18. Supplemental programs produced a small effect size (+0.15). Innovative technology application Carry-a-Tune had a large effect size (+1.02). However, the results of the last two categories of programs should be interpreted with caution due to the small number of studies involved. More studies are required to validate the effectiveness of all technology applications.

Author

• Alan Cheung, The Chinese University of Hong Kong