Project Directors
Bridget Dalton, Ed.D., (CAST 2000-2007)
David Schleper, Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center, Gallaudet University
Funder
Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center and Gallaudet University
Timeframe
2002-2004
Project Description
CAST, in collaboration with the Clerc Center at Gallaudet University, developed a universally designed digital reading environment for middle school children who are deaf and hard of hearing. The primary goal was to create a technology-based approach using digital texts that would improve students’ comprehension and reading achievement. Over the course of the project, the team created three digital hypertexts with embedded supports for comprehension, vocabulary, and decoding, along with a teacher guide and accompanying training materials. Dual language supports were embedded into the digital environment as were supports for multiple reading strategies. The approach was pilot tested with 14 middle school students and 3 teachers at the Clerc Center.
Sixty-nine percent of the students improved one or two grade levels in reading as measured by the Flynt Cooter Informal Reading Inventory. The results of this pilot study are promising and suggest that this hypertext, dual-language reading strategies instructional approach is highly appealing to middle school teachers of deaf or hard of hearing students and can have a positive impact on their students’ reading comprehension and engagement. Teachers also felt strongly that this type of supported reading environment was helpful to students and were eager to continue teaching with this type of tool.
