
Auður Ævarsdóttir, MS from the Faculty of Medicine
"Usage of tablets for teaching has increased significantly in pre- and primary schools in Iceland. Despite this increase and rapid progress in technology, there is very little research available on the effectiveness of interactive teaching in the form of apps," says Auður Ævarsdóttir on her MS thesis in speech therapy. Auður's interest in reading and preparation for reading in preschools was the foundation for her study.
"There is an important foundation laid for education in reading and writing where the children begin understanding the significance and function of the written language. In view of different times and rapid technological development it is vital to examine well the use of tablets and apps in teaching and preparation for reading."
Auður says that the Icelandic apps Lærum og leikum með hljóðin and Froskaleikir Hoppa were systematically used in two preschools in Iceland. "The objective of the study was to examine whether systematic instruction using apps with the aim of laying a foundation for literacy would better prepare the children for literacy in primary schools." Auður says that the study was aimed at two groups, on the one hand a research group from the two preschools that used the apps systematically. "On the other hand there was a control group of children from three preschools that had not used the apps in their teaching.