Interactive Multimedia to Improve Reading Skills Among

The U.S. Department of Education has identified the need for more effective tools and technologies for increasing student reading skills. In response to this need, American Research Corporation of Virginia proposes the development and evaluation of interactive multimedia for reading instruction targeted for children in grades K through 2. Interactive multimedia is the integration of text, graphics, and audiovisual media with computer-based information retrieval techniques to enable a user to view information in a nonlinear, intuitive manner. Instruction presented by the Phase I program will consist of one interactive novel illustrated by digital photography. Phase I technical objectives include development of the multimedia presentation framework, synthesis of the framework using multimedia presentation technology, and evaluation of the Phase I system with regard to usability. In Phase II, additional interactive novels will be developed for children in grades 3-8. Phase II evaluation will entail assessment of changes in knowledge, attitudes, and reading, skills with regard to more traditional methods of instruction.