ERIC Number: ED057634
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1971-Aug
Reference Count: 0
Teaching Slow Readers Using the Electric Typewriter. Final Report.
Seibert, Katherin E.
The hypothesis that first and second graders can improve reading skills by learning to type on electric typewriters was tested in this study. Other purposes of the research were to develop linguistic comprehension in Standard English, to produce introductory reading materials which promote phonic understanding as they fix typing-key strokes, and to use pattern practice and key-stroking exercises to develop finger dexterity and rhythm. Subjects, 15 children identified as having difficulty in learning to read, participated in the eight-week program for two hours daily, five days a week. The mean class gain of .96 of a grade level on the Survey of Primary Reading Development indicates that a significant amount of reading improvement takes place as a child learns touch typing. Other results suggest that the children showed progress in vocabulary development and linguistic comprehension, a mastery of the alphabet and the correct phonic associations, and development of good finger dexterity. Uncontrolled variables such as low teacher-pupil ratio and Hawthorne effect might have favored reading improvement, although there were a host of uncontrolled negative variables which as easily could have been unfavorable to improvement. (Author/SH)
Publication Type: N/A
Education Level: N/A
Sponsor: Office of Education (DHEW), Washington, DC. Bureau of Research.
Authoring Institution: California State Polytechnic Coll., Pomona. Kellogg-Voorhis Campus.