Improving Literacy
Digital Tools
Kindergarten
Through
in
By: Kelly Wenning
For my final project for my Master’s Degree in Integrating Technology in the Classroom, I conducted a yearlong research project answering this question: Is there a difference between phonemic awareness (literacy skills) test scores when learning with digital tools than not learning and practicing on digital tools in Kindergarten classrooms?
I had half the Kindergarten grade (3 classes) using tablets to practice literacy skills throughout the school year. They got to pick from the selected amount preset on the tablets. The other three classes did not use the tablets throughout the year for literacy purposes. All six classes will be assessed four times throughout the year on their literacy development as they all will be teacher taught literacy skills. This research was an Action/Experimental Research. The variable that I am manipulating is the tablet use in three of the six classrooms. I am comparing the two group assessment scores, knowing the main cause of difference between the two groups.
The 3 classes that can use the tablets for literacy purposes will also use an app called PuppetPals2 to work on literacy skills (research found this app has worked in the past). While using PuppetPals2 within the classroom, I continued to communicate with the Kindergarten teachers on how well the app was working inside their classroom. I also communicated with the first grade team about this particular app to see if they would be interested in incorporating this app next year when they receive their tablets. I had the kindergarten teachers, first grade teachers, and students take a survey about this app and the advantages they saw while using it or learning about it. The first grade and Kindergarten teachers all had a positive outlook on this particular app. The First Grade team was very interested in trying to incorporate this particular app when they get their tablets in the next school year.