Integrating Technology to Improve Adolescents’ Proficiency in the Common Core English Language Arts (ELA) Reading Standards: Key Ideas and Details

• Madeline Bendo, Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education, University of Delaware

• Teresa Hickok, Education, University of Delaware

The Common Core Standards were developed to be inclusive of rigorous content and applications of knowledge through higher order thinking skills. The focus on higher-order thinking skills requires a shift in how teachers teach and students learn the Common Core English Language Arts (ELA) Reading Standards. Many teachers have determined different approaches to teaching the standards. One approach is to integrate technology in the ELA classroom in order to support students’ reading proficiency through research, collaboration, and differentiation. Research has shown that technology integration offers innovative approaches to teaching and my research aims to determine what benefits it has to improving adolescents’ proficiency in CCSS ELA Reading standards 1-3. In order to better understand this topic, I have conducted a study that required teaching these standards to adolescents by integrating technology tools and determining how they cultivate skills identified as necessary to achieve success in later grades. I have investigated this topic by using the CommonLit digital reading program and embedded technology tools to support students at different skill levels and engage them in the learning process. My findings along with my research on teaching ELA using technology will be used to create a set of recommendations for future LYTE Scholars middle school ELA teachers whose students have difficulties with CCSS ELA Reading standards 1-3.