Middle School Struggling Learners, Technology Use, and Motivation

• In Event: Roundtable Session 10
  In Roundtable Session: Education for the Digital Natives

Abstract

The three most commonly used reading programs in a large metropolitan area in South Texas were identified as READ 180, Istation, and Achieve 3000. The publishers of these programs market the technology components of these programs as “highly motivational” and/or “engaging.” (Achieve 3000, 2015; Istation, 2015; Scholastic, Inc., 2015). What is the relationship between motivation to learn and technology use among middle school struggling readers? What is the nature of technology that has shown to positively relate to motivation? This literature review looks both at how agency and social interactions relate to student motivation to learn in 18 qualifying studies. A secondary analysis identifies how student collaboration and student agency are common factors related to findings in the eighteen studies.

Author

• Kelli M. Bippert, The University of Texas - San Antonio