The Impact of Cognitive Organizers and Technology-Based Practices on Student Success in Secondary Social Studies Classrooms
By Boon, Richard T.; Burke, Mack D.; Fore, Cecil; Journal of Special Education Technology, Vol. 21, No. 1, pp. 5-11Publication Date: Winter 2006
Study conducted to evaluate the impact of cognitive organizers with Inspiration 6 Software as compared with traditional textbook instruction in inclusive high school social studies classes. Inspiration 6 Software has been proven to be effective for students with learning disabilities, as it allows the user to create a cognitive organizer with graphics, pictures, and templates. The program also allows the user to integrate content material with graphics into outline format. A total of 29 tenth-grade students from a general education setting and 20 students with learning disabilities participated in the study. One chapter of a tenth-grade textbook titled “World History: The Human Experience” was used in two study conditions: (1) as presented via Inspiration 6 Software, and (2) in a standard textbook instruction phase. A 35-item open-ended pre- and post-test of content knowledge was used to examine the effectiveness of the intervention. The students in the cognitive organizer condition were found to perform significantly better than those in the traditional textbook instruction condition. Implications for future research and study limitation are discussed.
Assistive Products Discussed: INSPIRATION
Published by: Exceptional Innovations (Website:http://www.exinn.net)
Technology and Media Division (TAM) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) (Web Site: http://www.tamcec.org )
