This document summarizes the research conducted on the effectiveness of the vocabulary learning game "My Word Coach". The research was conducted with 50 primary school students in Montreal, split into two groups that both used the game. The results showed significant gains in the students' knowledge of word meanings, use of new words in oral production, and speed of word access after using the game, indicating it was effective at improving vocabulary learning in these areas.

3. Many learning claims get made

9. Predecessors 1

10. Predecessors 2

11. Predecessors 3

13. Word Coach’s Pedagogy

14. Behind-the-scenes pedagogy

15. Word Coach’s Coaches

16. Content – 3 strands 1. Form of words

17. 2. Meaning of words

19. 3. Processing speed

24. 1

25. 2

29. (60 words) 3

30. Research Design

31. Results To note first: Equal game use between groups (despite considerable variance)

32. Results 1 1a. Levels Test (pretest, both groups, no diffs) About 2350 word meanings known from first 5000 families but only just over half at key 1k level (600 words, SD 150)

34. Results 1c. Levels Test (3 times, both groups)

35. Results – Levels Test - Summary Initial state: No significant difference Baseline (602, T1-T2): No significant difference Following game use 601: 459 words average gain, **sig – but at T3, not T2 602: 178 words average gain, * sig Note: These are average gains Incorporating wide range of variance

36. Results 2 2a. Frog stories – new words in use

37. Results 2b. Frog stories – where are these gains?

38. Results 2c. Frog stories – story size

39. Results 2c. Frog stories – the main difference

41. Results - 2e. Example

42. Results – 2f. Example

43. Results – Frog stories - Summary Initial state: No significant difference (n.s.d.) - In # families used - In # tokens (=story size) Baseline (602, T1-T2): n.s.d. Following game use Despite variance: - Average 3 new word families - Average 35 more word tokens - Average 45% reduction in # of L1 words used

44. Results 3 3. Access – number of words read in 1 min.

45. Results 3. Access – number of words read in 1 min.

46. Results – Lexical access - Summary Initial state: No significant difference (n.s.d.) Baseline (602, T1-T2): Small but sig gains * Practice effect Following game use Despite variance: - Av. 23 more words read/minute - Statistically significant **

47. Results 4 – qualitative + post-hoc 4a. Beyond our means

48. Results – qualitative + post-hoc 4b. Winning profiles

49. Results – qualitative + post-hoc 4b. Winning conditions

56. “ Look out – the other one’s in a garbage can!”

61. [email_address] www.lextutor.ca This PPT at http://www.lextutor.ca/cv/ppt/pittsburgh.ppt