Alexa, Teach my Kid Fractions: A Single-Case Study using Conversational Assistant’s to Support Learning

The National Center on Education Statistics (2019) reports that of the nearly 7 million students who have qualified for special education services, 34% identify with a specific learning disability (LD). This study aimed to investigate the extent to which a conversational assistant (Amazon Alexa) programed with the self-regulated strategy development (SRSD) mnemonic had on students who were at-risk for LD and performing below grade level in mathematics. The study recruited four elementary-age students in a local catholic school between the ages of 10-11. Participants all performed below grade level on the ACT aspire formative assessment and received Title 1 services for weekly academic support for mathematics. The study used single-case multiple probes across the participant’s research design to evaluate academic performance on fraction probes across phases. Descriptive data were also collected for academic engagement and duration. Visual and statistical analysis were used to analyze the data and determine a functional relation between the technology-supported SRSD intervention and the primary dependent variable, academic performance, for all four participants. Implications for practice and several limitations are also discussed.