Development and promise of a vocabulary intelligent tutoring system for Second-Grade Latinx English learners

Doris Luft Baker, Hao Ma, Paul Polanco, Jillian Conry, Akihito Kamata, Stephanie Al Otaiba, Wayne Ward, Ron Cole

2020Journal of Research on Technology in Education27 citationsDOI

Abstract

We examine the promise, usability, and feasibility of an intelligent tutoring system (ITS) to improve the vocabulary and language proficiency in science and social studies of Latinx second grade English learners (ELs). Participants were 217 ELs attending English only programs or bilingual programs. Findings from the clustered randomized control trial using a researcher-developed proximal assessment indicated that students who used the ITS significantly improved their vocabulary knowledge of the words taught compared to students in the comparison group (ES = 0.38). Results also indicated that most students enjoyed using the ITS and learning new words. Teachers found the program feasible and beneficial to their students.

Topics & Concepts

VocabularyUsabilityMathematics educationComputer scienceLanguage proficiencyPsychologyControl (management)Intelligent tutoring systemVocabulary developmentEnglish as a second languageEnglish languageTeaching methodMultimediaArtificial intelligenceLinguisticsHuman–computer interactionPhilosophyIntelligent Tutoring Systems and Adaptive LearningText Readability and SimplificationEducational Assessment and Pedagogy