Schools that persisted with Tutoring with Alphie came to perceive it as beneficial, but felt its content better suited younger readers than Year 6¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · causal r1 · q2
Currency · newest study 2015 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Among schools persisting with the programme, perceptions turned positive as software problems were resolved, with tutors perceiving positive impact on pupils' reading. → Centre for Effective Education 2015 q2 i? Pupils enjoyed working collaboratively in pairs and reported perceived gains in reading, spelling and confidence, but criticised 'babyish' graphics and technical faults. → Centre for Effective Education 2015 (2)

Evidence¶

Centre for Effective Education 2015¶

Centre for Effective Education, Queen's University Belfast. (2015). Tutoring with Alphie: Evaluation report and Executive summary. Education Endowment Foundation. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED581542

q2 · i? · causal · r1

Process evaluation finding from tutor surveys and interviews: perceptions were mixed overall, with negative comments centred on technical issues, but persistent schools developed "a more positive experience of Tutoring with Alphie" over time.

"Many of the difficulties with the software were resolved over time and a number of schools who persisted with the programme perceived it as beneficial to the children’s reading."

Centre for Effective Education 2015 (2)¶

Centre for Effective Education, Queen's University Belfast. (2015). Tutoring with Alphie: Evaluation report and Executive summary. Education Endowment Foundation. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED581542

q2 · i? · causal · r1

Pupil survey returns from 11 of 21 schools; pupils also reported frustration with screen freezes and a missing 'done' button, and felt the graphics were too 'babyish' for their age group.

"A number of pupils highlighted how they enjoyed spending time on the computers and working collaboratively in pairs. Others suggested that they felt it had helped them with their reading and spelling and had boosted their confidence in reading."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Substantial technical problems with the adapted software prevented full implementation and drove school withdrawal — related
• Tutoring with Alphie showed a small positive but statistically non-significant effect on Year 6 reading comprehension (g=0.11) in the EEF trial — related
• Teachers, senior leaders, speech and language therapists and local authority managers perceived that Talk of the Town had a positive effect on pupil learning and confidence — related