CLLRNet
2007-2009

ABRACADABRA-A study in the development, implementation and effectiveness of a Web-based Literacy resource

Savage, R.S. (McGill), Abrami, P.C. (Concordia University), Comaskey, E. (Concordia University), Lebel, C. (Concordia University), Wade, A. (Concordia University), & Idan, E. (Concordia University)

ABRACADABRA, A Balanced Reading Approach for Canadians Designed to Achieve Best Results for All (http://grover.concordia.ca/ABRA/php2006/abracadabra.html), is a reading intervention developed by the Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance (CSLP). This website implements a scientifically based balanced reading curriculum in a digital environment. Under continual refinement, there are numerous activities organized into phonics, fluency, comprehension and writing categories, that allow the student to progress from sound and letter identification, to more complex tasks such as spelling and personal responses to stories – ultimately helping them acquire good literacy skills. The CSLP has focused its efforts in developing these skill-based activities within the instructional module, but the full version of ABRACADABRA will contain a Teacher Environment (professional development module) an Assessment Module (digital and paper-based measurement tools) a Parent Module and a link to e-PEARL, a digital portfolio developed by the CSLP.

Research on ABRACADABRA conducted to date (Abrami et al., in press: Savage et al., in preparation) have used two extended randomized controlled trials and carefully monitored implementations by trained facilitators to study the impact of the tool on student learning. The effects have been positive but implementation fidelity achieved by using the tool outside normal classroom routine without the active involvement of teachers may under-estimate true effects and challenge the tools generalizabilty to the situations most important to research. The proposed pan-Canadian study involves the use of ABRACADABRA in grade one classrooms. Our hypothesis is that this tool is a viable source that can provide better instruction and meet the needs of all students to develop good literacy skills. We also hypothesize that this tool will scaffold teachers not specially trained in reading acquisition as they use it for whole class instruction. Ultimately, ABRACADABRA has the potential to act as a model for best practices in teaching reading. We wish to work with school board administrators, principals, teachers and students in order to identify how a teacher can capitalize on these technological features and what sort of reading intervention (whole class, lab, small group) will they find most beneficial to meet the needs of all children in general and the struggling readers in particular.

This research is also an important opportunity to explore the integration of a technological resource. Our aim is to work with teachers to develop linking activities that will compliment the work they do with this website. Creating an effective intervention means researchers, students, developers and teachers working side-by-side so that tools meet all needs, which will help further launch ABRACADABRA into the Canadian school system.

In this way ABRA directly reflects the goals of CLLRnet in meeting the needs of vulnerable children including aboriginal children, children from minority language backgrounds, and children who may require additional or better instruction to acquire good literacy skills. Accordingly, our large-scale research addresses an issue of great significance across Canada and requires substantially greater resources than those typically supported by CLLRnet and other grants.