Promoting reading comprehension with the use of technology

• ABRA and ePEARL are better than regular instruction on vocabulary.
• ABRA and ePEARL are better than regular instruction on reading comprehension.
• ABRA and ePEARL are better than regular instruction on writing.
• ABRA and ePEARL are effective when implemented in authentic classroom context.

The research presented here explores the impact of two web-based applications (an interactive, multimedia literacy software and a digital process portfolio) on early elementary students' reading comprehension. Two studies were conducted during the 2010–2011 and the 2011–2012 school years, targeting 26 teachers from elementary schools (grades 1–2), and their students (N = 517) from six English school boards in Quebec, Canada. Analyses of covariance showed that students using both tools performed significantly better (p < .001) compared to controls in reading and written expression as measured by standardized tests.