Media Instruction for Literacy Skills

(LIME Trial)

Overseen By Eileen L Donnally, Master of Science

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Ohio State University

Disqualifiers: Severe intellectual disability, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

450 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if using educational media with children can boost their early reading skills. The study compares media-based activities (media instruction) to reading books together (storybook intervention) and to no specific activity. It is designed to help children, especially from low-income families, improve their literacy, which is crucial for future learning. Families with children aged 3 to 4 years, who speak some English, and do not have severe intellectual disabilities might be a good fit.

As an unphased trial, this study offers families the opportunity to contribute to important research that could enhance early childhood education strategies.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this media instruction is safe for children?

Research on using media to teach reading and writing skills does not provide specific safety details for this approach. However, media programs like Super Why!, used in this study, typically offer educational content for young children. These programs are generally safe and enjoyable, designed to teach skills like spelling and reading through engaging activities.

Regarding storybook reading, studies have shown that reading to children is a common and safe practice. It supports language and reading development and is widely used in schools without reported negative effects. This method helps children learn new words, the alphabet, and other reading skills.

Both media and storybook methods are based on well-accepted educational practices for children, making them safe and effective for improving early reading and writing skills. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these trial protocols because they explore innovative ways to boost early literacy skills in children. Unlike traditional methods that might rely solely on storybook reading, the media instruction approach introduces interactive media sessions using the Super Why! program. This method combines visual and auditory learning, potentially making it more engaging and effective for young learners. Additionally, both media and storybook instruction involve caregivers actively, enhancing the learning experience through joint participation and tailored strategies. These approaches could provide fresh insights into how different types of interactive learning can impact literacy development.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for improving early literacy skills?

Research has shown that the "Super Why!" program, used in media-based learning, can greatly improve early reading skills in children. Children who watched "Super Why!" made noticeable progress in recognizing the alphabet and understanding sounds in words. These improvements persisted over time, indicating the program's long-term benefits for reading development. In this trial, some participants will engage in media instruction using the "Super Why!" program.

Similarly, studies on reading storybooks together have shown that it can boost language skills and vocabulary. Children involved in storybook reading activities also learned new words more effectively. In this trial, another group of participants will participate in storybook instruction using adapted "Super Why!" storybooks. Both methods—using media and reading storybooks—effectively build early reading skills, helping young children prepare for future school success. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Rebecca A Dore, PhD

Principal Investigator

Ohio State University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for caregivers and their children to see if using educational media together can boost the kids' early literacy skills. It's especially aimed at low-income families who might benefit from such interventions.

Inclusion Criteria

Minimally verbal in English

Caregiver sufficiently proficient in English

I am between 42 and 57 months old.

Exclusion Criteria

Severe intellectual disability

I am older than 57 months.

I am not fluent in English.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Caregivers implement joint media or storybook sessions with their child four times per week for 12 weeks, focusing on early literacy skills.

12 weeks

Weekly digital logs and audio recordings

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for literacy skill improvements and adherence to intervention activities.

12 months

Assessments at 3, 6, and 12 months post-intervention

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Media instruction
• Storybook intervention

Trial Overview The study tests two methods: one where caregivers use media as a tool for teaching, and another with shared storybook reading. The effectiveness of these approaches will be compared to no intervention at all.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Media instruction Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Caregivers will be asked to implement joint media sessions with their child four times per week for 12 weeks using lightly adapted versions of the commercially-available Super Why! program, which focuses on early literacy skills, including alphabet knowledge, rhyming, spelling, and print concepts. Sessions are anticipated to last 20 minutes. Caregivers will be trained by researchers on explicit strategies to use to promote children's learning. Caregivers will digitally log every session and audio record 1 session each week.

Group II: Business-as-usual control Active Control 1 Intervention

Caregivers will be asked to log any joint learning activities they engage in with their child but will not be provided with any specific materials or instructions.

Group III: Storybook instruction Active Control 1 Intervention

Caregivers will be asked to implement joint storybook reading sessions with their child four times per week for 12 weeks using adapted versions of the commercially -available Super-Why! storybooks, which focus on early literacy skills including alphabet knowledge, rhyming, spelling, and print concepts. Sessions are anticipated to last 20 minutes. Caregivers will be trained by researchers on explicit strategies to use to promote children's learning. Caregivers will digitally log every session and audio record 1 session each week.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Ohio State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

891

Recruited

2,659,000+

University of Central Florida

Collaborator

Trials

101

Recruited

1,191,000+

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Collaborator

Trials

2,103

Recruited

2,760,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A review of 62 studies found that 61% reported significant improvements in patient outcomes when using video-based educational interventions compared to standard education techniques in inpatient settings.

Video-based education effectively enhances short-term health literacy, but its impact on long-term behavior changes remains uncertain, suggesting that combining various educational methods over time may yield better health outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact of the use of video-based educational interventions on patient outcomes in hospital settings: A scoping review. Dahodwala, M., Geransar, R., Babion, J., et al.[2019]

A review of 33 studies indicates that using television as a patient education tool can effectively enhance knowledge, skill training, and behavior change, with 11 studies showing significant results through randomized control trials.

Video presentations were found to be as effective as other educational methods and more effective than just providing written information, suggesting that television can be a valuable resource in patient education.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Television as a patient education tool: a review of its effectiveness. Nielsen, E., Sheppard, MA.[2019]

Citations

1. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/307744525_Super_Why_to_the_Rescue_Can_Preschoolers_Learn_Early_Literacy_Skills_from_Educational_Television

Can Preschoolers Learn Early Literacy Skills from ... The purpose of this study was to test whether Super Why!, an educational TV program that models key early literacy skills, could teach young children early ...

2. earlychildhoodeducationandcare.com earlychildhoodeducationandcare.com/bloggers/2018/9/11/the-efficacy-of-super-why-in-building-preschoolers-early-reading-skills

THE EFFICACY OF "SUPER WHY" IN BUILDING ... Super Why is a PBS Kids television show that has since expanded to DVDs, video games, and smart phone apps which have all been designed to teach children early ...

3. pbs.org pbs.org/about/about-pbs/blogs/news/research-proves-super-why-helps-children-learn-to-read-may-6-2009/

RESEARCH PROVES SUPER WHY! HELPS CHILDREN ... Growth on targeted literacy skills - Over time, kids who watched Super WHY! showed significant gains on alphabet knowledge, phonological and ...

4. infonomics-society.org infonomics-society.org/wp-content/uploads/ijcdse/published-papers/volume-6-2015/Super-Why-to-the-Rescue.pdf

Can Preschoolers Learn Early Literacy Skills from ... Children who viewed Super Why! over an 8-week period outperformed their control group peers on nearly all child outcomes. Learning was most pronounced for.

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212868923000570

Stimulating preschoolers' early literacy development using ... Results show that the media comparison studies provide some evidence for the effectiveness of educational technology in early literacy instruction, but ...

6. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-media-effects-on-literacy-gains-in-young-children-2-2025-7ab1b

Media Instruction for Literacy Skills (LIME Trial) Is media instruction for literacy skills safe for humans? The available research does not provide specific safety data for media instruction for literacy skills ...

7. youtube.com youtube.com/watch?v=1rR8I0HIfxs

SUPER WHY! Compilation | Music and Spelling | PBS KIDS Fly into this book and journey through some important lessons on spelling and reading with Whyatt, Princess Pea, and Woofster, ...

8. pbslearningmedia.org pbslearningmedia.org/resource/436194d9-1922-4357-a1c3-40cc329c8960/436194d9-1922-4357-a1c3-40cc329c8960/

King Midas | Super Why! This episode features the segment “King Midas.” Whyatt and his friends use alphabet, spelling, and reading skills to solve problems. King Midas | Super Why!

9. naeyc.org naeyc.org/resources/pubs/books/media-literacy

Media Literacy for Young Children: Teaching Beyond the ... Detailed descriptions of media literacy competencies, along with dozens of activities, strategies, and tips designed for children ages 2–7, demonstrate how to ...

10. 7.pbslearningmedia.org 7.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/8a88e503-0747-4933-b85f-b7a3a7064e17/8a88e503-0747-4933-b85f-b7a3a7064e17/?student=true

Humpty Dumpty | Super Why! Using this Super WHY! episode, students learn about facing their fears using the story of "Humpty Dumpty". They also practice the alphabet, identify the ...