Impact of the InferCabulary App on Vocabulary Knowledge of Fifth Grade Students With Disabilities

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-20-2019

Publication Title

Journal of Special Education Technology

Volume

35

Issue

4

First page number:

204

Last page number:

224

Abstract

There are multiple pathways for students with and without disabilities to learn new vocabulary terms. However, the number of empirically tested and validated multimedia options is surprisingly limited. In this study, researchers tested a commercially available app (InferCabulary) to evaluate the impact on vocabulary performance of fifth-grade students with and without disabilities. A key practice that can take many forms while maintaining its core characteristics is explicit instruction. Therefore, researchers paired the functionality of the app with explicit instruction to evaluate its impact on student learning. Based on a counterbalanced design across 6 alternating weeks accessing the app or teacher-led business-as-usual instruction, students scored higher on weeks when they used the app plus explicit instruction to learn new terms. Implications for future research are included.

Keywords

Elementary School; Age/Grade Level; Specific Learning Disability; Exceptionality; Group Design; Methodologies; Instructional Technology; Technology Perspectives; Literacy; Content/Curriculum Area; Multimedia

Disciplines

Disability and Equity in Education | Education

Language

English

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