Sam Houston State University

Outline  Significance of reading comprehension of 0nline texts  Definition of reading comprehension  Differences between reading the printed-texts and reading online texts  Reading strategies for teaching reading comprehension of online texts  Discussion  References

Significance of reading comprehension of 0nline texts

 Reading skill as learning medium  Reading ability as an integral tool for working & living  Rapid emergence of technology  Reading internet texts replacing printed-texts  Huge increase in the number of homes, classrooms, libraries, and other public facilities with computer and internet availability

Definition of Reading Comprehension “The construction of meaning of a written or spoken communication through a reciprocal, holistic interchange of ideas between the interpreter and the message in a particular communicative context” (Harris and Hodges,1995, as cited in Fresch, 2005 )

Differences Between Reading Printed Texts and Reading Online Texts Reading Online TextsReading Printed Texts  consist of more pages  consist of less pages  may need more time for searching & reading  Less time for reading only  need skills for searching engine results and evaluate the sources  need skills for reading only  need computer & its facilities  need only printed texts  Time & place limitation  read every time & every where

“How to speed read on the web” (2008) indicated to succeed in reading the web, readers :  Decide what they want to read  Examine what is relevant and required  Scan and extract what they nee  Store the information  Master speed reading by quickly looking at crucial information, recycling materials, supporting information, eye-catchers and embellishments and conclusion.  For a long article, the readers may search the top and bottom of the page, read all the subheadings, read the text beneath the images and any bold text, and then rapidly read through the articles. Strategies for Teaching Reading Comprehension of Online Texts

Strategies for Teaching Reading Comprehension of Online Texts (cont.) The journal Internet ( 2008) detailed the following six steps of effective reading online :  Identifying Important Questions  Locating Information  Critically Evaluating Information  Synthesizing Information  Communicating Answers  Putting it Together

Strategies for Teaching Reading Comprehension of Online Texts (cont.) Reading Strategies For Web Activities (2008) presented six reading strategies that teachers can use to help students read authentic documents on the web 1)Pre-reading and prediction 2)Skimming/scanning 3)Looking for cognates 4)Looking for meaning through context 5)Careful reading 6)Application

 Reading skill as learning medium  Reading ability as an integral tool for working & living  Rapid emergence of technology  Reading internet texts replacing printed-texts  Huge increase in the number of homes, classrooms, libraries, and other public facilities with computer and internet availability

Strategies for Teaching Reading Comprehension of Online Texts (cont.) Coiro & Dobler (2007) described three crucial elements for readers to use in text comprehension as follows: 1) Readers activate two different areas between prior knowledge of the topic and prior knowledge of text structure 2) Readers make connections between the lines that are not directly stated in the text. 3) Readers use metacognitive processes of evaluation and self-regulation, and adopt alternative strategies

Strategies for Teaching Reading Comprehension of Online Texts (cont.) Lue et al (2004), mentioned that new skills and strategies which are required for reading on line materials include: 1) Searching for appropriate information. 2) Comprehending search engine results. 3) Correcting inferences. 4) Coordinating and synthesizing the information. 5) Presenting in multiple media formats.

Strategies for Teaching Reading Comprehension of Online Texts (cont.) Castellani and Jeffs (2001) presented 3 steps of the teaching reading as follows: 1)Pre-reading 2)During-reading 3)Post-reading

Strategies for Teaching Reading Comprehension of Online Texts (cont.) Elliot(2000) suggested six strategies that can help teachers learn to make use of the World Wide Web: 1)Teach students the value of Key Word Skills 2)Use online sources available in the media center 3)Create a group of Web sites 4)Teach students correct search strategies 5)Direct students to certain search engines 6)Teach students to evaluate web sites

Strategies for Teaching Reading Comprehension of Online Texts (cont.) To teach students to effectively read online texts, teachers should follow the following steps. 1) Pre – Reading: Teachers:  Set specific purposes for reading  Examine students’ interests and construct a conceptual framework of learning assignment to motivate them  Activate students’ background knowledge  Search and evaluate the quality of information  Decide what sources are required and related to students’ need  Collect the articles, and create the list of the sources or articles  Encourage students to use their previous knowledge to draw upon the topic  Provide students necessary or unfamiliar vocabulary  Provide pre-reading questions to build their comprehension  Provide while-reading and post-reading questions to make sure whether the students work on the right track

Strategies for Teaching Reading Comprehension of Online Texts (cont.) Pre-Reading: Students:  Think what they want to find out  Set their working plan  Preview key elements of the texts such as headings, bold-faced print  Use their previous knowledge to predict what the topic tells about

Strategies for Teaching Reading Comprehension of Online Texts (cont.) 2) During – Reading: Teachers:  Monitor and control the students’ progress  Assist students when needed  Assess the progress of the students’ assignments Students:  Scan and skim the texts in order to extract what they need  Confirm the previous predictions  Read and reread if intensive reading is required  Highlight, review the highlight, and create a new list of unknown words  Use inferential reasoning strategies  Store information

Strategies for Teaching Reading Comprehension of Online Texts (cont.) Post - Reading Teachers:  Give feedback and suggestion  Review the missed-points  Grade students’ work

Strategies for Teaching Reading Comprehension of Online Texts (cont.) Students:  Analyze, synthesize, and organize information  Construct and refine their knowledge  Communicate their concepts  Read and check the framework of the assignment  Review what information has been given  Check the correctness and appropriateness  Present their final work

Discussion  Reading mostly takes place on the internet  Online texts have literally become an integral part of humans’ daily lives  Definition of literacy itself will continually change  Reading comprehension an ability to read, comprehend, search, evaluate, use various reading strategies to understand the texts, and communicate their concepts  Teachers urgently need better strategies for teaching with technologies  Teachers’ and Students’ preparation

References Bell, F. L., & LeBlanc, L. B. (2000, May). The language of glosses in L2 reading on computer: Learners’ preferences. Hispania, 83(2), Black, R. W. (2009, May). English-language learners, fan communities, and 21 st -Century skills. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 52(8), Castellani, J., & Jeffs, T. (2001). Emerging reading and writing strategies using technology. Teaching Exceptional Children, 33(5), Coiro, J., & Dobler, E. (2007). Exploring the online reading comprehension strategies used by sixth-grade skilled readers to search for and locate information on the internet. Reading Research Quarterly, 42(2), Dryer, C., & Nel, C. (2003, June). Teaching reading strategies and reading comprehension within a technology-enhanced learning environment. System, 31, Elliott, C. B. (2000, September). Helping students weave their way through the world wide web. The English Journal, 90(2), Fresh, M. J. (2008). An Essential history of current reading practices. Deleware: International Reading Association.

References How- to- speed- read- on- the- web (2008). Retrieved August 3, 2008, from how- to- speed- read- on- the- web/ Nielsen, J. ( 1997, October). How users read on the web. Retrieved August 3, 2008, from Hurd, S. (1999). Web-based learning environments guided by principle of good teaching: Comment. The Journal of Economic Education, 30(3), Internet (2008). Retrieved August 3, 2008 from Kame’enui, E. J., Carnine, D. W., Dixon, R. C., Simmons, D. C., and Coyne, M. D. (2002, 2 nd Ed.). New Jersey: Merrill Prentice Hall. Keeping our promise to all students [Editorial], (2009, December 2008-January 2009). Reading Today, p Kymes, A. (2005). Teaching on line comprehension strategies using think-alouds. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 48, Kuzma, L. M. (1998, September). The world wide web and active learning in the international relation classroom. Political Science and Politics, 31(3), Lue, D. J., Kinzer, C. K., Coiro, J. L., & Cammack, D. W. (2004). Toward a theory of new literacies emerging from the internet and other information and communication technologies. Theorical Models and Processes of Reading(5 th ed.), Lai, M. K., McNaughton, S., Amituanai-Toloa, M., Turner, R., & Hsiao, S. (2009). Sustained acceleration of achievement in reading comprehension: The New Zealand Experience. Reading Research Quarterly, 44(1), O’Conner, R. E., Bell, K. M., Harty, K. R., Larkin, L. K., Sackor, S. M., & Zigmond, N. (2006). Teaching reading to poor readers in the intermediate grades: A comparison of text difficulty. Journal of Educational Psychology, 94(3),

References Pino-Silva, J. (2006). Extensive reading through the internet: Is it worth the while? The Reading Matrix, 6(1) Prensky, M. (2007). How to teach with technology: Keeping both teachers and students comfortable in an era of exponential change. Emerging Technologies For Learning, 2, Reading online text Vs. Reading printed text (2007). Retrieved August 3, 2008 from Reading Strategies For Web Activities (2008). Retrieved August 3, 2008, from Robinson, D. R. (2005). Reading in reading instruction: Its history, theory, and development. Boston: Pearson. Shuman, R. B. (2006, May/June). A school-wide attack on reading problems. The Clearing House, 79(5), Simmons, D. C., Kame’enui, E. J., Coyne, M. D., & Chard, D. J. (2002). Effective strategies for teaching beginning reading. New Jersey: Merril Practice Hall Sutherland- Smith, W. (2002). Weaving the literacy web: Changes in reading from page to screen. The Reading Teacher, 55, Wozniak, P. (1999, September). Reading the internet (1999). Retrieved August 3, 2008, from Supermemo. com/articles/read.htm com/articles/read.htm

Thank you very much for your attention Kanya Wuttikietpaiboon Reading Doctoral Program Department of Language, Literacy, and Special Education College of Education Sam Houston State University