E-Book forKhmer (E4K) project

Application name“SmartBook”

The development of basal electronic readers is to improvethe reading scores of young Cambodian children. This project focuses on theproviding the experience on using a technology-based approach by developingbasal electronic readers which children can gain confidence by reading at theproper level and replace one-size fit all approach. The e-readers will alsoinclude digitized quizzes and test exercises to increase the efficiency andvalidity of teacher assessment. Moreover, we believe that each of theseelements are not only innovative in and of themselves but offer uniquesynergies that will be trans-formative. For example, the existence of basalreaders will for the first time help to modulate reading instruction forchildren based on their reading level while the electronic form of the readerswill provide opportunities for interactive features and time-saving digitaltesting. Generally, we would like to share the studies about using electronicreading materials with such features as audio narration, sound effects, andanimations are effective in helping young children to decode new words and improvetheir reading comprehension. Such interactive features make reading a veryattractive activity to children, thereby enhancing their motivation to readwithout the fear of failure that many children associate with reading tasks inhard print. Many of the self-help features of E-Books for word definitions orpronunciation ensure that children who might otherwise be shy of asking theteacher a particular question can readily access the desired informationthrough the interactive features of the e-book.

In short, we would like to share about how to promote theindividualized learning experience by using technology, to re-emergence ofBasal Readers to match children’s level of reading, to create rigorousassessment of impacts on reading acquisition and to use electronic materialseven in poor rural environments.