An Enhancement of Dyslexic Mobile Application using Sight Word Reading Strategy: Results and Findings

Abstract

Dyslexia is an indicating term for learning disorder due to the difficulty in identifying speech and sound of letters and words, causing reading difficulty. Most children with dyslexia utilise the greater part of their senses to connect with their environment. One of the difficulties faced by dyslexic children is their troubles expressing their emotion or thought through verbal or written communication due to limited vocabulary, which is caused by issues in perceiving letters, sound and importance of the word overall. Sight word reading is a methodology with various reading stages and fascinating diversion with the purpose to create a fun reading experience. Currently, the dyslexia centre (i.e., Learning and Resource Centre, Dyslexia Association of Sarawak) does not adopt Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in their teaching and learning processes. Hence, in this study, a mobile application that utilises sight word reading strategy has been produced with the aim to help children with dyslexia build up their reading aptitudes. Sight words reading strategy is incorporated into three different modules in the mobile application, namely short stories, rhymes and song verses, according to the suggestions given by the instructors at dyslexia centre. This paper presents the study on the effect of sight word reading strategy in mobile application. The main contributions of this study is the utilisation of sight word reading strategy to enhance the application features such as story, rhyme and song modules. An improved score board is added to monitor the progress of the child. This mobile application, Mr Read V2.0 has been tested at the Learning and Resource Centre, Dyslexia Association of Sarawak with the instructors and dyslexic children, together with their parents. The children obtained 28% improved test scores taken before and after using Mr. Read V2.0. The overall results of the testing session showed that 100% respondents, instructors, parents and children either agreed or strongly agreed that this mobile application can improve the reading skill from using the additional features added to Mr. Read V2.0. Sight word reading strategy that is incorporated into mobile application is an effective approach to help dyslexic children improve their reading skill.