In search of finalizing and validating digital learning tools supporting all in acquiring full literacy.
Heikki Lyytinen1, Natalia Louleli1,2
1Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
Frontiers in Psychology
|August 21, 2023
Summary
Basic reading skills are not enough for learning. A new digital game, ComprehensionGame, helps children achieve full literacy (FL) by improving reading comprehension, especially for boys, and boosting school performance.
Area of Science:
- Educational Technology
- Literacy Studies
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Basic reading skills (decoding text) are insufficient for knowledge acquisition through reading.
- Existing digital tools like GraphoGame focus on foundational reading skills, but full literacy (FL) requires further development.
- Declining reading engagement, particularly among boys, impacts academic performance, as evidenced by PISA results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate a new digital tool, ComprehensionGame, designed to foster full literacy (FL) in young learners.
- To address the need for improved reading comprehension beyond basic decoding, especially in transparent orthographies.
- To motivate students, particularly boys, towards reading by integrating game-based learning with school curricula.
Main Methods:
- Development of the ComprehensionGame, a digital tool focused on enhancing reading comprehension.
- Integration of the game with daily reading lessons to connect practice with academic goals.
- Validation of the tool with learner populations in Africa and Finland, identified as needing support.
Main Results:
- The ComprehensionGame effectively motivates pupils to read by requiring comprehension for gameplay.
- The tool aims to concurrently improve reading comprehension and elevate overall school achievements.
- Initial validation efforts focus on populations with the greatest need for literacy support.
Conclusions:
- Full literacy (FL), encompassing reading comprehension, is crucial for academic success and requires targeted support.
- Digital game-based learning, like ComprehensionGame, offers a promising approach to enhance reading motivation and skills.
- Addressing reading challenges, especially in diverse linguistic contexts and demographics, is essential for global educational equity.
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