Multimedia: A Tool in Addressing the Reading Difficulties of Learners

The study intended to find out if multimedia can be a tool for addressing the reading difficulties of selected grade 2 learners in the five schools of Magpet West District - Magpet, North Cotabato, Philippines. It specifically, aimed to answer the following questions : what are the reading difficulties of the selected grade 2 learners of the five schools in Magpet West District; does multimedia enhance the test scores of the learners; what type of multimedia is the most effective tool in enhancing the reading skills of learners; what are the reading skills that learners can acquire with the use of multimedia; which type of multimedia is the most effective tool in addressing the reading difficulties of learners; and what is the effectiveness level of using multimedia on the reading skills of learners with reading difficulties. A repeated measure type of quasi-experimental research design was conducted to determine if multimedia can be an effective tool in addressing the reading difficulties of learners, in terms of phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and reading comprehension in which four sessions of 60-minutes reading intervention using powerpoint presentation, video, flashcards and charts and workbook were use for each session respectively. The learners were found to have moderate difficulty in phonological awareness and very high difficulty in phonics, fluency, vocabulary and reading comprehension skills. Using multimedia such as powerpoint, video, flashcard and charts in conducting reading intervention enhance pupils test scores (developing/passed) while using workbook maintains their level as beginner. Mathematically speaking, powerpoint presentation ranked number 1 in improving the test scores level of learners. By using multimedia, learners acquired reading skills in phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and reading comprehension. Reading skills of learners in terms of phonological awareness become very high, while in terms of phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension skill became moderate. Statistically, flashcard and charts were found to be the most effective multimedia tool in improving the reading skills of learners. Moreover, multimedia has a high significant effect on acquiring reading skills of learners. Thus, it can be a tool in addressing the reading difficulties of learners.