Primary and Early Years > Interest > Learning support

P12: Building confidence in primary literacy through ICT support
Author: Lesley Oliver, Classroom Assistant, Hunwick Primary school, Co. Durham
Date: 2005

Summary

A new spelling software progam was trialed with a group of five low achieving students. Findings suggest that use of the program saves teacher time, boosts motivation, promotes self-evaluation, and can create small improvements in attainment for all but the lowest level ability groups. The research also mentions an award scheme that supports peer learning.

Actions

Five Year 5 children trialed the Global English program over one term, and their views and achievement data were collected by the teaching assistant in discussion with the students and their teachers.

In the Global English programme, the children listen to words through headphones and then spell them on the computer. The program continually assesses each child's ability, moving them through the work slowly or quickly, and if necessary taking them back to stages they have not fully grasped.

Outcomes

"When I ask the children to get out the laptops and do their spelling program," writes the teaching assistant, "I am greeted with a cheer."

The computer's capacity to correct students' work and to improve basic skills frees up teacher time for higher level interventions.

The instant feedback supports learning and the program enables children to progress at their own pace.

The group has experienced improvements in their attainment. One student's reading age improved by 18 months in just six months of working. Children working just below average ability levels made most progress, while very low performing students did not make significant progress. These findings have informed strategies for use of the program across the school.

Independent use of the program is perceived to boost students' confidence. The children seem to find it easier to be corrected by the computer than by an adult, and they prefer the neatness of computer corrections to the messiness of red ink corrections all over their work books.

The program tracks each learner's progress and automatically maintains a personal profile which supports self-evaluation and enables the student to discuss their performance with peers and their teacher.

The report also mentions the "digital excellence silver award." Award-winning students receive certification and a badge of excellence which qualify them to give technical advice to other students. This form of peer learning is an efficient way of spreading skills while empowering learners.

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