Examining reading proficiency and science learning using mixed reality in elementary school science

Scientific literacy is foundational for many young learners in primary school grades when they have mastered the ability to comprehend vocabulary terms and the science concepts behind them. Text with engaging visual imagery can improve students' comprehension, enhance retrieval, and increase re...

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Main Authors: Leonard A. Annetta, Mark H. Newton, Yvonne Franco, Ashley Johnson, Denise Bressler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Computers & Education: X Reality
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949678024000369
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author Leonard A. Annetta
Mark H. Newton
Yvonne Franco
Ashley Johnson
Denise Bressler
author_facet Leonard A. Annetta
Mark H. Newton
Yvonne Franco
Ashley Johnson
Denise Bressler
author_sort Leonard A. Annetta
collection DOAJ
description Scientific literacy is foundational for many young learners in primary school grades when they have mastered the ability to comprehend vocabulary terms and the science concepts behind them. Text with engaging visual imagery can improve students' comprehension, enhance retrieval, and increase retention when it is integrated into either or both reading and science instruction. Integrating multimedia experiences into science content reading to enhance text through mixed reality (MR) has the potential to supplement both understanding of science concepts and reading ability. This study examined whether reading elementary science text, heavy in science vocabulary, through MR enhanced students’ reading fluency and/or science content learning. A quasi-experimental convergent mixed methods one group pretest-posttest design was employed with 24 grade 5 students in a rural area of the United States Mid-Atlantic region. Data sources included a reading fluency and retelling test, physical and chemical changes end of unit test, and post-interviews. Wilcoxon Signed Rank Tests suggested reading fluency and comprehension gains were statistically significant (p < .05). Qualitative analyses suggested audio integration, enjoyment while engaging with the MR, and finally the visual components of the MR enhanced the learning process. Findings suggest a potential for MR to increase science learning and reading interest especially among low-proficiency readers.
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spelling doaj-art-48f93078b6e345e59635d00c5b462a422025-08-20T01:57:59ZengElsevierComputers & Education: X Reality2949-67802024-12-01510008610.1016/j.cexr.2024.100086Examining reading proficiency and science learning using mixed reality in elementary school scienceLeonard A. Annetta0Mark H. Newton1Yvonne Franco2Ashley Johnson3Denise Bressler4The Citadel, 171, Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC, 29409, United States; Corresponding author.East Carolina University, United StatesUniversity of Tampa, United StatesUniversity of Mount Olive, United StatesDB Engagements, United StatesScientific literacy is foundational for many young learners in primary school grades when they have mastered the ability to comprehend vocabulary terms and the science concepts behind them. Text with engaging visual imagery can improve students' comprehension, enhance retrieval, and increase retention when it is integrated into either or both reading and science instruction. Integrating multimedia experiences into science content reading to enhance text through mixed reality (MR) has the potential to supplement both understanding of science concepts and reading ability. This study examined whether reading elementary science text, heavy in science vocabulary, through MR enhanced students’ reading fluency and/or science content learning. A quasi-experimental convergent mixed methods one group pretest-posttest design was employed with 24 grade 5 students in a rural area of the United States Mid-Atlantic region. Data sources included a reading fluency and retelling test, physical and chemical changes end of unit test, and post-interviews. Wilcoxon Signed Rank Tests suggested reading fluency and comprehension gains were statistically significant (p < .05). Qualitative analyses suggested audio integration, enjoyment while engaging with the MR, and finally the visual components of the MR enhanced the learning process. Findings suggest a potential for MR to increase science learning and reading interest especially among low-proficiency readers.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949678024000369Mixed realityScience readingScience learningPrimary schoolVisualizationVocabulary
spellingShingle Leonard A. Annetta
Mark H. Newton
Yvonne Franco
Ashley Johnson
Denise Bressler
Examining reading proficiency and science learning using mixed reality in elementary school science
Computers & Education: X Reality
Mixed reality
Science reading
Science learning
Primary school
Visualization
Vocabulary
title Examining reading proficiency and science learning using mixed reality in elementary school science
title_full Examining reading proficiency and science learning using mixed reality in elementary school science
title_fullStr Examining reading proficiency and science learning using mixed reality in elementary school science
title_full_unstemmed Examining reading proficiency and science learning using mixed reality in elementary school science
title_short Examining reading proficiency and science learning using mixed reality in elementary school science
title_sort examining reading proficiency and science learning using mixed reality in elementary school science
topic Mixed reality
Science reading
Science learning
Primary school
Visualization
Vocabulary
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949678024000369
work_keys_str_mv AT leonardaannetta examiningreadingproficiencyandsciencelearningusingmixedrealityinelementaryschoolscience
AT markhnewton examiningreadingproficiencyandsciencelearningusingmixedrealityinelementaryschoolscience
AT yvonnefranco examiningreadingproficiencyandsciencelearningusingmixedrealityinelementaryschoolscience
AT ashleyjohnson examiningreadingproficiencyandsciencelearningusingmixedrealityinelementaryschoolscience
AT denisebressler examiningreadingproficiencyandsciencelearningusingmixedrealityinelementaryschoolscience