Usefulness of Assistive Technologies for Reading and Writing Skills and Academic Self-Concept for French-Speaking Elementary Students with Learning Difficulties

Authors

  • Gabrielle Bourget-Piché Université du Québec à Montréal
  • Céline Leroux Chemla Centre de services scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys
  • Clélie Bigo Commission scolaire de la Vallée-des-Tisserands
  • Marie-Claude Guay Université du Québec à Montréal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21432/cjlt28276

Keywords:

reading and writing difficulties, assistive technology, academic self-concept

Abstract

This pilot study focuses on the use of assistive technologies (AT) by elementary school students, educated in French, who were identified with reading and writing difficulties (AT group, n = 25). The aim of this study is to assess whether assistive technologies improved their reading comprehension, spelling errors, and academic self-concept. A comparison group of average achieving peers (n = 22) is included to examine whether the gap in scores of the two groups is reduced over time. The results show that between the two time periods, students in the AT group reduce their spelling errors, and after just five months using assistive technologies, they even got comparable performances to their normally achieving peers. In reading comprehension and academic self-concept, the interaction effects are not significant. The implications for academic success and future research are discussed.

Author Biographies

Gabrielle Bourget-Piché, Université du Québec à Montréal

Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal

Céline Leroux Chemla , Centre de services scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys

Céline Leroux Chemla  est psychologue au Centre de services scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys. Ses intérêts cliniques et de recherche portent sur le haut potentiel intellectuel et les troubles d’apprentissage. 

Clélie Bigo, Commission scolaire de la Vallée-des-Tisserands

Clélie Bigo est psychologue pratiquant en clinique privée. Elle a anciennement travaillé au Centre de services scolaire de la Vallée-des-Tisserands. Ses intérêts cliniques portent sur la psychothérapie cognitivo-comportementale.

Marie-Claude Guay, Université du Québec à Montréal

Marie-Claude Guay est professeure au département de psychologie à l’Université du Québec à Montréal, neuropsychologue et chercheure associée à la Clinique des troubles de l’attention de l’Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies. Ses intérêts de recherche portent sur le TDAH, les troubles d’apprentissage et le haut potentiel intellectuel.

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Published

2023-04-20

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