Technology infusion in beginning reading instruction: Three randomized experiments

This symposium will present the findings of three closely linked studies on the infusion of technology in beginning reading instruction. Three year-long randomized experiments were carried out to evaluate the addition of forms of embedded multimedia and of computer-assisted tutoring in the Success for All (SFA) reading program. Multimedia (Mayer, 2001) is content that combines written and spoken words and pictures to help children comprehend and retain complex information. One study evaluated Reading Reels, which embeds multimedia content in SFA Reading. A cluster randomized experiment in 10 urban schools found significant positive effects on reading, in comparison to schools using SFA without embedded multimedia. A second randomized experiment evaluated Alphie’s Alley, a computer-assisted tutoring program that provides animated content, assessments, planning guides, professional development videos, and other tools to help tutors succeed with struggling first graders. Positive reading effects were found for schools with high implementation ratings. The third presentation reports the results of a randomized experiment that evaluated an approach combining Reading Reels and Alphie’s Alley, which found substantial positive effects of the combined program for children who received tutoring. Finally, a study of time use and affective responses to Alphie’s Alley will be presented. Richard Mayer, a leading researcher on multimedia, will serve as a discussant.