The impact of home computer use on ELL's reading performance

Abstract

This research study investigated the impact of home computer use on English Language Learners' reading performance. The primary research question was: What is the relationship between home computer use and the reading performance of ELLs? The participants were 13 Hispanic students who are 6th, 7th and 8th graders in School #1 and School #2. Both settings are located in Chautauqua County, New York, in the United States. This study used a 10-item survey distributed to these students, asking them about the effectiveness of home computer use on their reading performance with special attention to their English Language Arts (ELA) test scores. Results, in general, showed that computer use had positive effects on those students who had access to a home computer and used it for reading purposes. However, using a computer for a variety of purposes had a weak correlation with students' test scores. In conclusion, the study showed some similarities and differences between the current study and other previous studies on the same field. The findings of this study add to the understanding of using computers to increase ELA test scores in the field. [from author's abstract]