Automated Teaching Aid for At-Risk Readers

Reading is the foundation of all academic learning, and children with reading problems are at serious risk of educational failure. As many as 30% of all students in America can not read English by the end of first grade. The percentage is much higher for the crowing number of students for whom English is a second language. With intense individual remedial instruction, however, most of these students can become competent readers with a much better chance at academic success. However, already overburdened teachers often find it impossible to provide the level of individual attention that is required. Orion Enterprises, Inc. (OEI) proposes to develop an automated teaching aid for at-risk readers that will diagnose their level of reading competence and introduce the specific type of remedial instruction needed based upon that level of competence. The system will be computer-based and will allow self-paced, real-time diagnosis and instruction with minimum teacher involvement. Instruction will include proven reading diagnostic and instructional material but in a multimedia environment using sounds, games, and animated presentations to make the learning process more fun.