Building Better Readers: Characterizing the Neurological Effects of the SpellRead Reading Intervention Program

识字是大多数学术学习的基础，并最终成为经济和社会参与的基础。然而，估计有5-15%的加拿大儿童患有阅读障碍，这阻碍了他们的教育，限制了他们作为社会生产成员充分发挥潜力的能力；此外，他们还会遭受社会耻辱感和较低的自尊心。加拿大统计局的数据显示，全国平均识字率每提高1%，每年的GDP就会增加180亿美元。阅读干预计划是一个重要的工具，可以帮助那些在阅读方面遇到困难的孩子缩小与同龄人的差距。哈利法克斯学习中心（HLC）提供的一个非常成功的项目是SpellRead。在过去的20年里，HLC已经成功地为3000多家客户提供了SpellRead，并取得了非常积极的成果，这已经在一些实证研究中得到了验证。在这个时间点上，HLC已经制定了一个五年的战略发展计划。这包括在全国范围内扩展和开发移动应用程序，以补充他们的教师授课计划。他们的增长计划的关键是：(1)进一步独立，实证验证SpellRead计划的有效性；(2)更好地理解SpellRead工作的神经认知机制；(3)协助开发和验证移动应用程序。达尔豪斯大学神经认知成像实验室的这项资助代表了新的产学研合作的第一阶段，旨在支持HLC的研究和发展。在最初的项目中，我们将通过一个为期6个月的纵向研究来评估阅读结果和大脑活动，研究对象是参加拼写阅读项目的儿童，以及一组匹配的对照儿童。这项工作将为合作伙伴在未来项目中的进一步合作奠定基础。这是一个NSERC-Mitacs联合应用；该项目还包括一个Mitacs加速实习，以支持一名计算机科学实习生开发一个研究数据库/分析门户，以补充engage资助的工作。

Literacy forms the foundation for most academic learning, and ultimately for economic and societalparticipation. However, an estimated 5-15% of Canadian children have dyslexia, which impedes theireducation and limits their ability to reach their full potential as productive members of society; as well theysuffer social stigma and lower self-esteem. Statistics Canada has quantified that each 1% improvement in thenational average literacy rate would translate into an $18 billion increase in annual GDP. Reading interventionprograms are a critical tool to help children who are struggling with their reading to close the gap with theirpeers. One highly successful program is SpellRead, delivered by Halifax Learning Centre (HLC). Over the past20 years, HLC has successfully delivered SpellRead to over 3000 clients and has seen very positive outcomes,which have been verified in a handful of empirical studies. At this point in time, HLC has developed a 5-yearstrategic plan for growth. This includes national expansion and the development of mobile apps to supplementtheir teacher-delivered program. Key to their plans for growth are (1) further independent, empirical validationof the efficacy of the SpellRead program; (2) a better understanding of the neuro-cognitive mechanisms bywhich SpellRead works; and (3) assistance in the development and validation of the mobile apps. ThisENGAGE grant with the NeuroCognitive Imaging Lab at Dalhousie University represents the first stage of anew industry-university partnership aimed at supporting HLC's research and development. In the initial projectwe will assess reading outcomes and brain activity in a 6-month longitudinal study of children going throughthe SpellRead program, and a matched group of control children. This work will lay the groundwork for furthercollaboration between the partners in future projects. This is a joint NSERC-Mitacs application; the projectalso includes a Mitacs Accelerate internship to support a computer science intern who will develop a researchdatabase/analysis portal to complement the ENGAGE-funded work.