Conclusion


 * Conclusion.**

This trial was extremely worthwhile. Although each and every student did not increase their TORC test result, there were other gains to be had. The students felt that they learned a lot of new words during the term.

Both Anne Clark (teacher aide), the students and I agreed that the students formed quite a powerful bond with each other during the term that hadn't been there before. This increased their connectedness to school. They said that they felt closer to each other and they believed it was because of the trial. They felt quite special to have been chosen to participate in the trial. I noticed an improvement in their relationship with me as their teacher librarian. Each student was particularly pleasant and polite and would go out of their way to speak to me in the library or in the quadrangle.

Each student mentioned that the trial was fun and that they enjoyed learning in a different way. Attendance and punctuality improved as well.

Anne Clark noted that students were very engaged and proud of their success when their 'Expression Potential' went up a range. Students were very happy during the lessons and were sad at the end of the term to know that they would be going back to the 'regular' Literacy classes.

One student ran to the class every day, so excited about using the DS as a learning tool!

This response from students is very encouraging in relation to their connectedness to school and each other.
 * At the end of the trial**, students were surveyed again, this time about what their favourite part of the trial, gaming and how they felt about school.
 * 1) 80% of students thought their favourite part of the trial was 'fun'. 80% said 'exciting', 40% said 'different', 100% thought is was 'learning in a different way', 60% 'felt privileged' as no other group had use of the DS and 40% said love of video games.
 * 2) 100% of students said they learned new words, 80% said they learned more words, 60% said they learned how to spell and 60% said they learned interesting words.
 * 3) All students said they made more of an effort to come to school during the trial.
 * 4) All students said they made more of an effort to be on time to school/Literacy class during the trial.
 * 5) 75% of students said they feel more connected to school now.
 * 6) All students said that they feel more connected to their Literacy group now.

I believe that the four things I set out to investigate have been proven to be effective:
 * 1) Overall students' Literacy achievement increased.
 * 2) Students all agreed that they were more engaged in their Literacy tasks during the trial.
 * 3) Overall students' attendance was better and students said they made more of an effort to come to school during the trial.
 * 4) Students' punctuality improved as the term progressed.

On the last day of term, students presented me with a card, outlining what they liked about the term.