Heartland AEA 11

6500 Corporate Dr.

Johnston, IA 50131-1603

www.aea11.k12.ia.us

2/20/03

Contacts:

Lynn McCartney, Heartland AEA 11, (515) 270-9030 ext. 4677

Michelle Richardson, Heartland AEA 11, (515) 270-9030 ext. 4522

Steve Jones, Heartland AEA, (515) 270-9030 ext. 4317

JOHNSTON, Iowa — Students can read The Odyssey and other great works of literature from the palms of their hands on electronic books. Now Heartland Area Education Agency staff are determining whether the use of "eBooks" improves reading comprehension in high school students.

Research by Heartland AEA instructional materials consultants Michelle Richardson and Lynn McCartney also will examine whether the new format motivates reluctant high school readers. They also are studying whether the devices will endure daily student use and their cost effectiveness compared to traditional paper books.

Research indicates that eBooks motivate students to read and provide new ways for them to comprehend text, according to Richardson and McCartney.

"The Milliken Research Report on Technology has consistently found the use of technology to be a top motivating factor in student learning," Richardson said.

McCartney and Richardson, however, could find no data on whether high school students’ reading comprehension improved as a result of eBooks. "To our knowledge this is the first research study that has attempted to measure the effects of eBooks on students' reading comprehension, motivation, performance, collaboration and communication," McCartney said.

Heartland AEA is funding the two-year project in English classes at six high schools. Studies at Nevada and West Des Moines’ Walnut Creek Campus are under way now, and research at Des Moines North and West Des Moines Southwoods will be in April and May. Research this school year is completed at West Des Moines Valley and Norwalk. Half the students read e-Books, the other half use paper books.

Richardson and McCartney believe eBooks have a place in schools, at least for some students. The eBooks are designed to meet individual student needs. Teachers can add definitions, background information and even Internet links to the eBooks. Students can highlight and bookmark words and passages and can type notes directly into the devices.

Teacher and student feedback has been positive thus far, according to McCartney and Richardson.

-30-