How does the study work?

Both the literacy game and the study will be conducted entirely online. After a parent/guardian consentsto the child’s participation in the study, they will be able to download the game for free to their iPad or iPhone running iOS 11 or higher. Families will need to provide the iPad or iPhone for the game and the study.

After agreeing to participate in the study, children take an entrance survey and then will be randomly assigned to one of the following groups:

• One group will start playing the online game right away and will play for 6 weeks (the“Early Start” group).

• One group will delay playing the game for 6 weeks (the “Late Start” group).

  At the end of the 6-week period, both groups will be asked to take an exit survey. After completing the exit survey, the parents of the participating child will be invited to enter a Contest for a chance to win one of two $1,000 prizes for their child’s 3rd grade teacher. In addition, after completing the exit survey, both the Early Start and the Late Start groups will have access to the game for 3 months.