Essay - Qualitative Proposal for a Study on Improving Reading Skills in...

Qualitative Proposal for a Study on Improving Re*****ding Skills in Lower-level and Special Needs Students Through the Use of Technology

Background

Students who have the highest risk of failing in school also have low reading capabilities. This is especially true for students who have special needs. Goetze and Walker (2004) have found that using technology may be a solution to this issue. They *****ssert that regular and consistent use of technology enhances literary capabilities of students who have special needs. However, teachers must be properly trained on how ***** use technology in the classroom (Doering, Huges, & Huffman, 2003). If ***** are trained ***** to ***** the technology, how to integrate it into their lessons plans, and how to al***** students to voice ***** inputs, students could indeed improve reading scores (May, 2003; Lelop & Ponterio, 2005).

***** order for this to happen, teachers need ***** ***** certain the technology is being used to (a) hear word *****nes, (b) decipherer and interpret words, - understand overall expressions, (d) un*****erstand word span, and (e) help students become knowledgeable and confident with their ***** style (May, 2003). Overall reading will be improved, as well as students' ability to read on the internet ***** other digital media. This is pertinent due to the fact that literacy is no l*****ger limited to "hard copy" material.

Softw***** ***** aids in teaching reading skills are AlpahSmart and Kidspiration (*****, 2003). Others technologies include voice detection software, tele-cooperations of the internet, Personal Digital Ass*****tants (PDA) and portable processors or devices (Fisher & Molebash, 2003). Teachers ***** use this software in addition to other ***** strategies as ***** is not a substitute, but an aid in their teach*****g.

This study looks at ***** various ***** can aid in improving educ*****ion for low-level special needs students. To truly understand this phenomenon, a qualitative research design is most suitable. A summative evaluation of techniques that teachers ***** to incorporate technology in***** their lesson plans ***** be conducted.

Qualitative research and its appropriateness for this *****

While quantitative research is historically the principle way in which ***** is done, qualitative research is growing in popularity as it addresses ********** in the social sciences. Marshall and Rossman (2006) state,

***** is a process of trying to gain a *****tter underst*****ing of ***** complex*****ies of the hum*****n experience, and, in some genres of *****, to take action based on that underst*****ing." (p.23)

***** and Rossman (2006) ***** state that qualitative inquiry should begin ***** an idea or ***** observation of a ***** ***** the rese*****rcher feels should be investigated and rep*****ted ***** others. Holiday (2002) adds to this by explaining that while qualitative research does not fill in the holes of quantitative research, it does *****fer different paradigms to conduct ***** ***** and ***** gain ***** information.

These different paradigms are based on *****tological (underst*****ing of reality), epistemological (understanding of how one knows what *****y know) and methodological (***** answers are *****) assumptions (Patton, 2002). While different theorists categorize ***** define different inquiry