Use of digital stories to develop listening comprehension skills

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of digital stories on the Turkish (mother language) listening skills of fourth grade students. The study used a mixed methods and was conducted in two fourth grade classrooms (ages 9-10 years) in a primary school in Eskisehir city, Turkey, during the 2014-2015 spring semester. During the 8-week application process, Turkish lessons were conducted using digital stories and activities were designed depending on the digital stories. While the lesson plans were put into action by the classroom teacher, the researcher observed the process. Research data were obtained also from a listening comprehension test, and teacher and student interviews. Quantitative data from the listening comprehension test was analysed using ttests, and the qualitative data was subjected to descriptive analysis. A significant difference was found between the post-test listening comprehension scores for the experimental and control groups. The qualitative data from student and teacher interviews, and from classroom observations, showed that digital stories, listening activities based on the stories, and the creation of a more engaging and motivating classroom environment had positive effects on listening comprehension skills in the experimental group.