ERIC Number: EJ1094809
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0256-8543
EISSN: N/A
E-Books in the Early Literacy Environment: Is There Added Value for Vocabulary Development?
Roskos, Kathleen A.; Sullivan, Shannon; Simpson, Danielle; Zuzolo, Nicole
Journal of Research in Childhood Education, v30 n2 p226-236 2016
Using a theory of affordances, this study examines the introduction of e-books into the early literacy environment as resources that can increase children's opportunity for learning vocabulary. Added value was observed under conditions of (1) book browsing, (2) instruction, and (3) a print-only condition. A total of 33 4-year-olds (18 boys, 15 girls) from nine Head Start classrooms assigned to one of the three conditions participated over an 8-week period. Mean differences in target words learned in total and by mode in each condition were statistically significant in favor of the e-book-enriched environments. Differences in word learning between e-book environment conditions were clinically significant. Mean differences in words learned by total and by mode for children with varying levels of vocabulary knowledge (low, average, high) showed that those in e-book-enriched classrooms learned about 25% of the target words with children with low vocabulary showing comparable gains. Results suggest added value of e-books in the early literacy environment: (1) affording children more exposure to target words to their advantage, (2) creating a choice of reading material in the early literacy environment, and (3) providing built-in scaffolds (e.g., hotspots) that may carry some of the teaching load of vocabulary instruction.
Descriptors: Electronic Publishing, Books, Emergent Literacy, Value Added Models, Vocabulary Development, Affordances, Preschool Children, Statistical Significance, Scaffolding (Teaching Technique), Printed Materials, Comparative Analysis, Reading Tests, Pretests Posttests, Blended Learning, Literacy Education, Urban Areas, Verbal Ability, Intelligence Tests, Vocabulary, Preschool Education
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A