Effect of Jason Multimedia Science Curriculum on Developing Science Content Vocabulary of English Learners
English Learners (EL) need science vocabulary to succeed academically. Elementary schools focus on reading instruction and middle and high school science teachers are generally not prepared to teach English vocabulary and language skills, so EL are left at a disadvantage. The purpose of this study is to determine how the Jason Multimedia Science Curriculum, (JMSC), might build the science vocabulary of EL? The literature would indicate that the JMSC; a thematic, inquiry based, hands on science program, augmented by multimedia; would be a context rich medium for building vocabulary. In this study, the author/researcher, a Curriculum and Technology Integration (CTI) teacher was trained in the JMSC and implemented it in the computer lab of the two schools that she supports. Five - fourth grade classes participated in a JMSC unit of study about the rainforest. Evidence indicated a growth in science vocabulary. It is the author’s conclusion that use of the JMSC can build student content area vocabulary.
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