Theses and Dissertations
Date of Award
2010
Document Type
Dissertation - NSU Access Only
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice
Advisor
Robert Hill
Committee Member
Charles Greco
Committee Member
Dana Scott Mills
Keywords
ERIC Descriptors: Reading Comprehension, Computer Aided Instruction, Computer Technology, Reading Achievement, At Risk Students
Abstract
This applied dissertation investigated whether computer-aided instruction (CAI) would improve reading comprehension among third graders who were at risk of becoming poor readers. Four research questions were explored. 1. What conditions in the subject school contribute to low performance in reading comprehension? 2. Will CAI have a statistically significant impact on the reading achievement of at-risk third graders? 3. How will the use of CAI across the third-grade curriculum impact students’ attitude toward reading? 4. Will CAI motivate third graders to improve performance in reading?
This study began with 40 third graders but ended with 37 third graders from one primary/elementary school in a metropolitan area in Jamaica. The data-gathering instruments were open-format questions, the Early Reading Diagnostic Assessment, Standardized Testing and Reporting Reading, Computer Attitude Questionnaire, and Classroom Observation Checklist. This study included a teacher open-ended survey group; a parent open-ended survey group; a nonequivalent experimental design; a one group, pretest-posttest design; a pretest-posttest, control-group design; and a counterbalanced (waiting control) randomized treatment design. The intervention was conducted over a 14-week period during the 2009-2010 school year.
Findings were consistent with previous studies that revealed that, over time, CAI improved reading comprehension among students who were at risk of becoming poor readers. CAI worked favorably for the students as they were highly motivated and engaged throughout the intervention. Results affirmed the need to utilize CAI as a viable teaching strategy to advance students’ ability to read and understand what they read at the various grade levels. The differences in the results validated the need to employ CAI, a constructivist approach to learning, over the behaviorist approach. This study should assist the subject school to improve its reading instruction and then to advance its literacy program.
NSUWorks Citation
Gwendolyn J. Melhado. 2010. Improving Reading Comprehension Through the Use of Computer-Aided Instruction Among Third Graders. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. (944)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/fse_etd/944.