# Using Tablets to Teach Basic Literacy Skills to Kindergarten Students: A Case Study
## 3 Method
### Materials  
As previously mentioned, the decision was made to conduct three sessions of two teaching hours each for every group. Consequently, it was decided each session to be dedicated to a letter of the Greek alphabet, namely the letters\"\(\alpha\)\", \"\(\varepsilon\)\", and \"\(\rm o\)\". The activities for both groups adhered to the following pedagogical principles:  
* Although the activities were somewhat repetitive, substantial efforts were made to ensure that the context was meaningful. This approach aimed to facilitate students' retention and application of their knowledge [4]. For instance, students were not only instructed to write the uppercase and lowercase versions of each letter but also to draw objects that include the respective letter. * The use of visual cues, such as images, was extensively integrated, as these support the writing process [24]. * Emphasis was placed on letter-sound recognition. This enabled children to hear and replicate the sounds of letters and link them to the written ones [25]. * The majority of activities were designed to be play-based, as this method is known to enhance the reading and writing skills of young learners [17]. For example, there were activities in which students were asked to find pairs of letters on a set of flipped cards and match letters/objects and sounds. The following materials were utilized for the control group:  
* A video projector and a CR player for presenting videos and songs related to the session's focus letter. * Cards of objects, cards with both the upper- and lowercase versions of letters, and audio recordings of words, for guessing, pairing, and matching activities. * Paper and pencils for activities related to drawing letters and objects having a specific letter. * Worksheets including the session's activities. As for the experimental group, although the digital learning material could have been presented through various methods (e.g., web pages), it was decided to develop three applications (one for each letter) that, in several parts of them, took advantage of the capabilities offered by AR technology. AR involves the overlay of data onto the real world, enabling visualization and interaction in real time. Devices such as smartphones, tablets, AR glasses, and head-mounted displays facilitate this integration [53]. This technology significantly captures the attention of students and enhances the educational process by providing them with multiple opportunities to engage with content in a more authentic and meaningful manner [7]. Research has demonstrated that the use of AR is a powerful tool for teaching young students, rendering learning more engaging, interactive, and effective [54]. In the context of language learning for very young learners, AR has been shown to improve comprehension and participation, making it an indispensable tool for teaching complex subjects simply and effectively [55]. Furthermore, this technology supports the development of emergent literacy skills by offering interactive reading experiences. For instance, AR applications can facilitate rapid letter naming and enhance comprehension by presenting letters and words in a 3D format [56]. Moreover, the use of AR in early literacy learning has been associated with increased motivation and self-efficacy, as children find the interactive and immersive nature of AR applications appealing [57]. For the development of the applications Blippbuilder ([[https://www.blippar.com/accessed](https://www.blippar.com/accessed)]([https://www.blippar.com/accessed](https://www.blippar.com/accessed)) on 15 January 2025) was used. It is a development platform, designed to enable users to create immersive and interactive AR content. It offers a user-friendly interface combined with a set of features that allow creators to upload, arrange, and animate 3 Dmodels, images, videos, and other multimedia elements within an augmented environment, without necessitating advanced programming skills. The applications followed the same design principles and shared the same interface.