Phonemic awareness is a key building block for later reading and spelling development. Students at risk for reading difficulties may have difficulties with phonemic awareness and need additional instruction or intervention to develop these skills. This column discusses evidence-based phonemic awareness instruction and the implementation of…

Reading is a crucial skill for students to develop, not only as they enter school but also as they continue throughout K-12 education. Computer-assisted instruction (CAI) is one means of providing supplemental support for students to build the foundational key areas of reading--so they can use reading to learn in later schooling years. One such…

Purpose: By methodologically reviewing the literature on Technology-Assisted Reading Instruction (TARI) for English Language Learners (ELLs) in K-12 settings, this study aims to advance the knowledge of TARI research and guide future research directions. Design/Approach/Methods: This study examines 32 peer-reviewed journal articles published…

Approximately 250 million children across the world are not acquiring basic reading and math skills, even though about 50% of them have spent at least 4 years in school. Educational policies on Early grade literacy (EGL) in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region have long suffered from a disjuncture between school practice and research.…

Much of what is known about autism and literacy instruction is derived from studies including monolingual English-speaking children. Yet, less than one-fifth of the world's population are English speakers. This review examines the research on literacy instruction for children with autism learning to read and write in languages other than English.…

This systematic analysis examines effectiveness research on online and blended learning from schools, particularly relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic, and also educational games, computer-supported cooperative learning (CSCL) and computer-assisted instruction (CAI), largely used in schools but with potential for outside school. Eight research…

This review examines the effectiveness of educational technology applications in improving the reading achievement of struggling readers in elementary schools. The review applies consistent inclusion standards to focus on studies that met high methodological standards. A total of 20 studies based on about 7,000 students in grades 1-6 were included…

This meta-analysis summarizes research on the effects of a comprehensive, interactive web-based software (AXXX) on the development of reading competencies among kindergarteners and elementary students. Findings from seven randomized control trials and quasi-experimental studies undertaken in a variety of contexts across Canada, Australia and Kenya…

The Second Chance Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-199) represented a historic piece of legislation designed to improve outcomes for and provide a comprehensive response to the increasing number of individuals who are released from prisons, jails, and juvenile residential facilities, and returning to communities upon release. The Second Chance Act's…

This literature review synthesizes the effects of computer-assisted instruction to enhance the reading comprehension of students with disabilities and struggling readers from 1985-2009. First, it addresses research investigates the impact on comprehension when students are presented with computerized versus printed reading material. Second, it…

Notes that early research on using computers for teaching reading was restricted by the current theories on how reading is learned but that recent developments reveal exciting possibilities for using computers in reading. (FL)

Briefly summarizes the applications and implications of computer-assisted instruction, computer-managed instruction, and computer-based resource units. Other computer applications and research are discussed. (JD)

Reviews 42 studies of computer-assisted instruction published from 1990 to the present, comprising 75 experimental comparisons. The corrected effect size estimate was 0.19. Two variables, effect size at the time of pretesting and language of instruction, accounted for 61% of the variability in effect sizes. Advises caution in interpreting results…

Examines arguments both for and against using computer-assisted learning (CAL) techniques in the development of reading skills, covering the advantages of control, interaction, power, and versatility. CAL's disadvantages include affective demands, logistics, and methodological limitations. (Author/CB)

Outlines a set of criteria for use by teachers in selecting and evaluating educational software. (FL)