Project Activities
The researchers will develop an intervention comprised of specific step-by-step strategies for students with disabilities to use when reading and learning online. The strategies will be organized into three sets related to locating and evaluating information online, reading and synthesizing information online, and communicating and sharing information online. A multi-stage, iterative process will be used to develop, test, refine, and pilot test the intervention. The materials for each strategy will be developed and implemented with students, and data will be collected on students' use of each strategy and their levels of engagement and satisfaction. Feasibility tests will be conducted on the full set of strategies to determine satisfaction, use, engagement, and improvements in reading outcomes.
Structured Abstract
Setting
The project will be conducted in schools in Oregon and Connecticut.
Sample
Approximately 240 students with specific learning disabilities in middle and high school will participate.
The researchers will develop an intervention comprised of step-by-step strategies for students with disabilities to use when reading and learning online. In general, the strategies will be organized into three sets related to locating and evaluating information online, reading and synthesizing information online, and communicating and sharing information online. Intervention materials will include one-page summaries and online interactive teaching modules that illustrate each strategy as well as a teacher's guide for integrating the strategies into the curriculum.
Research design and methods
The researchers will use a multi-stage, iterative process to develop, test, refine, and pilot test their online reading and learning strategies. The materials for each strategy will be developed and implemented with students. Data will be collected on students' use of each strategy as well as their levels of engagement and satisfaction. Materials for each strategy will be modified. After materials have been developed for a set of strategies, feasibility tests will be conducted to determine satisfaction, use, engagement, and improvements in reading outcomes.
Control condition
There is no comparison condition.
Key measures
Outcomes include measures of students' reading and learning skills in traditional and online environments, use of online reading strategies, engagement, and student and teacher satisfaction.
Data analytic strategy
Data will be analyzed to assess how strategies and instructional materials are adopted and adapted in classrooms, which strategies were used by students, which factors facilitated or inhibited strategy use, and improvements in student reading outcomes.
People and institutions involved
IES program contact(s)
Products and publications
Products: This project will result in published papers and reports on a fully developed intervention program designed to improve the online reading and learning by secondary students with specific learning disabilities.
Book chapter
Knox, C., Anderson-Inman, L., Terrazas-Arellanes, F., Walden, E., and Hildreth, B. (2016). The SOAR Strategies for Online Academic Research: Helping Middle School Students Meet New Standards. In Y. Rosen, S. Ferrara, and M. Mosharraf (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Technology Tools for Real-World Skill Development (pp. 68-104). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Journal article, monograph, or newsletter
Knox, C., Anderson-Inman, L., Terrazas-Arellanes, F., Walden, E., Stryker, L.A., Hildreth, B. (2016). Strategies for Online Academic Research (SOAR): Digital Literacy for Middle School Students. International Journal of Information Communication Technologies and Human Development (IJICTHD), 8(1): 42-68. doi:10.4018/IJICTHD.2016010103
Questions about this project?
To answer additional questions about this project or provide feedback, please contact the program officer.
