SMARTPEN TECHNOLOGY AND NOTE-TAKING STRATEGY ON ACHIEVEMENT FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN SECONDARY ENGLISH CLASSES

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of a note-taking intervention using the Livescribe 4GB Echo SmartpenTM assistive technology on students’ notes and lecture comprehension, with an emphasis on content, vocabulary skills, and total words written. Students both with and without disabilities, including Specific Learning Disability, in 9th grade English Language Arts classes participated in this study. Students with disabilities may struggle with slower processing speed and poor working memory skills, which reduces the quality of their notes. Students in the experimental group were instructed how to use a note-taking intervention in conjunction with the smartpen assistive technology. This note-taking intervention was designed to assist students with disabilities to focus on taking their notes using the smartpen assistive technology, identify vocabulary words and definitions, amend their notes for errors or missed information, and write a brief summary of the important content. Results from the data analysis found statistical significance with special education students in the experimental group; they recorded more words in their notes, as well as an increase in word count and vocabulary words on the Immediate Free Recall (IFR) assessment.