Web work improves reading: Study

A study conducted in two Maryland public middle schools, one rural and one urban, found that "7th and 8th graders who used three "online field trips" scored higher on a national standardized reading comprehension test than those who used traditional learning methods alone. The virtual field trips were developed by Maryland Public Television (MPT), which conducted the study of their effectiveness. On the field trips - "Pathways to Freedom: Maryland & the Underground Railroad" , "Exploring Maryland's Roots" , and "Knowing Poe: the Life and Times of Edgar Allan Poe" - students "explore, learn and retain curriculum content through numerous highly engaging interactive experiences and activities," according to MPT. The results, the press release says, were "improved students' reading performance on the Gates-MacGinitie Standardized Reading Test and pre-post content assessments," and "improved reading among the poorest readers," and "improved reading comprehension among low-income students."