Concordia researchers boost literacy

Did you know that if a child doesn’t know how to read by grade three they are at risk for a lifelong struggle to learn?

This issue has been raised recently by Concordia researchers who have some concrete solutions to help deal with this potential obstacle.

“ABRACADABRA”: the formula for success
Researchers at Concordia’s Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance (CSLP) have developed ABRACADABRA, a free, interactive web-based literacy program for early elementary school-aged students, to help battle the alarmingly high percentage of low ability readers. Recent findings from a three-year study show that children who were exposed to ABRA made significant gains in letter-sound knowledge, phonological awareness and word reading compared to those who did not use the program.

“We are extremely pleased and encouraged by these results, says Philip Abrami, director of CSLP and Concordia Research Chair in Education. “Our digitally accessible, fully integrated anytime, anyplace learning tool seems have been well accepted in the school system. We look forward to implementing and developing this program in other jurisdictions and hearing about its success.”

ABRACADABRA is:
• Focused on building a foundation of literacy skills to ensure that all students can achieve success.
• Including modules for teachers and parents
• Built on a solid research base
• Implemented in school districts across Canada, Northern Australia and recently across the United States.

Visit http://grover.concordia.ca/ABRACADABRA/promo/en/index.php
Or for access to the lite version: http://abralite.concordia.ca

ABRACADABRA is offered as part of the Learning Toolkit. The Learning Toolkit also includes a second tool called ePEARL, which is an electronicportfolio that supports the process of self-regulated learning. The CSLP team is studying ways these two tools can be used together to foster reading comprehension skills.

ABRACADABRA was recently awarded the prestigious AECT Design and Development Outstanding Practice Award. A French adaptation of the software is planned for Fall 2011.

A multi-university collaboration
ABRA was developed with other researchers in the CSLP including Professor Rob
Savage from McGill University. The development of the French adaptation is
being spearheaded by a team from the University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM), led by Professor Monique Brodeur.

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Source:

Fiona Downey
Media Relations Advisor
Concordia University
Phone: (514) 848-2424, ext. 2518
Cell: (514) 518-3336
Fax: (514) 848-3383
Email: fdowney@alcor.concordia.ca