The use of information and communication technologies to overcome reading difficulties: statistical comparison of reading results through the use of Letrinhas software

Célio Gonçalo Marques, António Manso, Luís M. Grilo, Ana Paula Ferreira, Ana Amélia Carvalho

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Letrinhas is an information system created by the Polytechnic Institute of Tomar (Portugal), in partnership with a School Grouping (Portugal), to give support to elementary school children with reading difficulties. The software can be used on mobile devices, such as a tablet, and allows the evaluation and improvement of reading fluency. By promoting the development of students' reading skills, it contributes to the development of autonomous readers and consequently to the improvement of school results. In order to evaluate the importance of Letrinhas software in the process of reading (children from 2nd and 3rd grade, with a mean age of 7/8 years old), two independent samples were collected, consisting of students from several primary schools. A sample is made up of students who have learned from Letrinhas (experimental group) and the other sample consists of students who have learned to read through the classic process (control group). In the students' learning process there are two essential reading components: fluency and precision. To statistically compare the data gathered for the variables Fluency Index and Precision Index, in both groups (experimental and control), confidence intervals and (non)parametric tests were used. The differences between the two teaching methods of reading, observed in graphs and in the values of some descriptive statistical measures, are statistically significant (also the values obtained for the effect sizes measures are considerable). The positive impact of the Letrinhas software on the fluency and precision of reading, empirically identified by teachers, was statistically confirmed.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the International Conference of Computational Methods in Sciences and Engineering 2019, ICCMSE 2019
EditorsTheodore E. Simos, Zacharoula Kalogiratou, Theodore Monovasilis
PublisherAIP - American Institute of Physics
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)978-073541933-9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Dec 2019
EventInternational Conference of Computational Methods in Sciences and Engineering 2019, ICCMSE 2019 - Rhodes, Greece
Duration: 1 May 20195 May 2019

Publication series

NameAIP Conference Proceedings
PublisherAmerican Institute of Physics (AIP)
Volume2186
ISSN (Print)0094-243X
ISSN (Electronic)1551-7616

Conference

ConferenceInternational Conference of Computational Methods in Sciences and Engineering 2019, ICCMSE 2019
Country/TerritoryGreece
CityRhodes
Period1/05/195/05/19

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