Increasing College Entrance Testing Vocabulary for Secondary Students with High-Incidence Disabilities

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of an instructional technology device, specifically, a computer-based graphic organizer, called the Real-World Connections Vocabulary graphic organizer (Ellis, 2015), on vocabulary acquisition for college entrance testing skills of students with high-incidence disabilities. Although graphic organizers have been studied since the 1960’s, there is very little research regarding the effectiveness of computer-based graphic organizers when used with high school students with mild disabilities, and their benefit acquiring college entrance exam vocabulary knowledge, namely, the ACT exam. By means of a single-subject, multiple probe across participants design, this study demonstrated that a functional relation did exist between the tool and vocabulary acquisition for each of the three participants. Additionally, a social validity survey rendered positive results regarding its use.

Keywords

• vocabulary acquisition
• reading comprehension
• computer-based graphic organizers
• secondary students with high-incidence disabilities
• instructional technology