The Effects of Computer-Assisted Instruction using Kurzweil 3000 on Sight Word Acquisition for Students with Mild Disabilities

This study was designed to examine the effects of a computer-assisted instruction program on the acquisition of sight words for four African American fourth graders with mild disabilities (i.e., learning disabilities, mild intellectual disabilities, and ADHD). Computer-assisted instruction using the Kurzweil 3000 text to speech program included the following practice activities: typing target sight words, highlighting spoken words on the computer screen, reading and saying sight words into a microphone, and completing a cloze passage. A multiple baseline design across word sets demonstrated that computer practice using Kurzweil 3000 was functionally related to increased sight word recognition. All four students mastered the target sight words within two to seven 20 to 25-minute sessions. Additionally, three students demonstrated maintenance of the sight words they acquired up to four weeks after the computer intervention was discontinued.