AN INVESTIGATION OF READING ACHIEVEMENT AND THE USE OF SUCCESSMAKER A DIGITAL READING PROGRAM
A Dissertation Proposal
Submitted to the
Faculty of Argosy University Campus
In Partial Fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education
By
Jeanne Nelson
Argosy University Sarasota Campus
March, 2013

Dissertation Committee Approval:
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Dissertation Chair: Dr. Janice Powell Ed.D Date
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Committee Member: Dr. Denise Davis-Cotton Ed.D Date
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Program Chair: Dr. George Spagnola Ed.D Date

TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF TABLES ii TABLE OF FIGURES vii TABLE OF APPENDICES ix CHAPTER ONE: THE PROBLEM AND ITS COMPONENTS 1 Introduction 1 Problem Background 1 Purpose of the Study 1 Problem Statement 2 Research Questions 2 Limitations and Delimitations 3 Definitions of Terms 4 Significance of the Study 8 Overview of Study 8 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE 9 Introduction 10 Introduction to the i-Generation 12 Technology’s Role in School Reform 14 Technology and Student Achievement 19 Teaching Reading Through the use of Technology 23 Pearson’s Digital Learning Platform SuccessMaker 25 Summary 30 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY 31 Introduction 31 Research Design 32 Target Population 33 Instrumentation 33 Assumptions 34 Procedures 34 Data Processing and Analysis 36 Summary 37 REFERENCES 38 CHAPTER ONE: THE PROBLEM AND ITS COMPONENTS
Introduction
America’s children are falling behind other nations. In 2012 the United States was ranked 17th among developed countries. Many say our education