Digital game-based training of early reading skills: overview of the GraphoGame method in a highly transparent orthography / Entrenamiento de habilidades de lectura tempranas basado en un juego digital: visión general del método GraphoGame en una ortografía altamente transparente

Abstract

Learning to read in a language with a transparent orthography is generally quick and easy. To be able to read any words, learners need to know how to connect the smallest spoken language units, phonemes, into the written counterparts, graphemes. However, even learning the basic alphabetic principle has proven difficult for some learners. Here we focus on children who struggle to learn to read in Finnish that has a highly transparent orthography. In an attempt to provide efficient early preventative support for such learners, a technology-enhanced learning environment, GraphoGame, was developed. The GraphoGame method focuses on the specific problematic areas of each individual learner using a phonics type drilling, starting from training the letter-sound connections before introducing larger units. Here we provide an overview of the GraphoGame method together with research findings.