Can technology help close the gender gap in literacy achievement? Evidence from boys and girls sharing eBooks

Abstract

Purpose: Digital technologies may offer new solutions to old problems or bring additional complications. In this paper, we address a longstanding and widespread issue, specifically, slower acquisition of literacy skills by boys compared to girls. Electronic books might serve to close this gender gap because it is believed that boys are generally less motivated to read but that boys are especially engaged by technology. However, interactive features in electronic books could further challenge boys’ weak self-regulation skills, thus impeding their literacy achievement. Gender differences in literacy learning and the learning environment were examined in two studies conducted in French-language kindergartens.

Method: Study 1 involved 56 girls and 36 boys, where the relationship between oral language precursors at school entry and literacy outcomes at the end of second grade was assessed. Study 2 included 43 girls and 44 boys, where interactions between children and an adult during shared reading exchanges with electronic books were coded to reveal gender-related differences in the learning environment.

Result: In Study 1, the oral language and emergent literacy screener in first grade significantly predicted second grade spelling, with a significant gender gap in orthographic skills favouring girls in grade two despite similar oral language skills in grade one. In Study 2, adult readers were observed to re-direct boys’ attention or regulate their behaviour more often during shared reading (when compared to girls).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that self-regulation may mediate early reading precursors and different literacy outcomes by gender. Strategies to alleviate stress and improve the learning environment during literacy activities are suggested. Overall, it is clear that technology is neither beneficial nor harmful by itself; rather, synchronised interactions between adult, child and technological features are crucial. Furthermore, the broader social context in which teaching and learning interactions are embedded plays a role.

Keywords:

• Emergent literacy
• literacy
• gender gap
• executive functions
• shared reading

Acknowledgments

We are especially grateful to the elementary school teachers and staff for helping us to recruit children and for providing us with the space and resources required to conduct both studies. Many clinicians and students have been involved in this project, some of whom are acknowledged here: Daniella Aguinaga, Michelle Blouin, Olivia Bouskill, Elizabeth Carolan, Elisabeth Christe (S-LP), Viviane Elkin-Leger, Nadila Gagnacci, Emily Goodwin, Jocelyne Guimond, Alexandre Herbay, Valerie Kula, Tory Lackman, Geneviève Léonard, Isabelle Oke, Hélène Parent, Anastasia Provias, Marie-Claire Riel, Chantal Sabourin (S-LP), Rebecca Therrien and Celine Wang. Finally, we thank the children and their parents for their participation in and support of this project.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada, grant number 890-2011-0025.