A MODULE ON THE USE OF AN
ORIGINAL ELECTRONIC
STORYBOOK AS SUPPORT FOR
READING COMPREHENSION
By: Amity Kathleen Tan
Ateneo de Manila University
Background of the Paper
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Reading comprehension:
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a dynamic process
active readers use information from the
text and prior knowledge
“to build and maintain a coherent
representation of meaning” -- Goldman &
Rakestraw, 2000.
Background of the Paper

Blachowicz and Ogle (2001) :

“Our society will need young people who
can identify problems, ask appropriate
questions, locate resources and information,
and formulate and test solutions to the
problems.”
Background of the Paper
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Reading comprehension is a skill that
students need for today and tomorrow’s
society.
Educators must find ways on how to
facilitate the learning of reading
comprehension
Promise of information communication
technologies in the classroom
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Electronic talking books
Objectives
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Create and develop an original
electronic storybook to support reading
comprehension


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Using Macromedia Director
Saved in CD-ROM format
Module to teach this
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Take note of students’ comprehension and
attitudes
Objectives
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For the use of Grades 3-4 students
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In a private school for boys
Design of electronic book based on:
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Simple View of Reading
Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning
Existing research on talking book software
Review of Related Literature
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Simple View of Reading

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Gough & Tunmer (1986)
Hoover & Gough (1990)
Reading comprehension is the product
of decoding and linguistic
comprehension
Review of Related Literature

Cognitive Theory of Multimedia
Learning
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Mayer (2001)
3 assumptions
Active Processing assumption:
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active learning :
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select relevant information
organize this into mental representations
integrate this with existing information
Review of Related Literature

Multimedia instruction

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must facilitate the selection, organization
and integration of new information with
existing knowledge
Design of instructional materials must
be based on how humans learn from
multimedia
Review of Related Literature

CD-ROM Talking Books
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“interactive, digital versions of stories that
employ multimedia features such as
animation, music, sound effects,
highlighted text, and modeled fluent
reading” – Labbo 2000
Use of electronic books showed
promising results on reading
comprehension
Target Learners
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Technology-centered
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75% of students’ time spent on TV,
movies, videogames, radio, computer,
cellular phones
90% of students have access to Internet at
home
Open to educational uses of technology
Features of Electronic Book
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Animation

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colored drawings, moving characters
Narration
Help Page
Vocabulary and Comprehension Skills
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through pop-ups within the story
through a comprehension test
Overview of Scripting
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Story and drills by the researcher
Collaboration with software designer Mr.
Galvin Ngo
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Macromedia Director
lay-out and coloring
Illustrations by Mr. Alwin Macalalad
Voices by Jonjee Sumpaico, S.J., Aaron
Ong, and the researcher
Pilot Testing
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Conducted at a private grade school for
boys last October
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Students read the story, then answered
the comprehension test
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at the computer laboratory
using headphones to access narration
Program scored the test
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with answer key
Pilot Testing
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Results for 34 students:
Comprehension Test Results:
Number of Students and their Scores
4
1
9
20/20
19/20
18/20
10
17/20
15/20 and below
10
Pilot Testing
Pilot Testing
Pilot Testing
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Survey Results
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Favorable reviews for electronic book
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Vocabulary words, challenge pages,
animation, still pictures, story
Concentration and attitude
Instructor showed hesitance in using it
Suggestions
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scoring, drawings
module design: class size, control, time
Recommendations
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Successful use of the electronic book as
support for reading comprehension
Favorable attitude towards future use of
electronic books
Involvement of educators in design and
implementation of ITCs
Design based on cognitive theory of
multimedia learning
Recommendations
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Training and support
Further research on effects of electronic
books on reading comprehension and
motivation
Lifelong independent learners at ease
with both paper and electronic media