Literacy Retreat 2017
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Build Masterful On-Screen Readers
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Gamer Strategy 1: Recognize the features of digital text
Gamer Strategy 2: Vary on-screen reading purposes
Gamer Strategy 3: Retrain skimmers, scanners, & scrollers
Gamer Strategy 4: Limit peripheral vision
Gamer Strategy 5: Beware of click bait
Gamer Strategy 6: Track the reading journey
On-Screen Reading Research
Examine how mediums differ
Online information grows exponentially. Check out www.smartinsights.com for an infographic that presents what happens online every 60 seconds in 2014, 2015, and 2016. (Scroll down this site to see the statistics escalate in real time.)
Study the habits of gamers
Nadine Gilkison, Smekens Education Digital Resource Designer, created these Google slides as a part of a classroom lesson. She added the link to Google Classroom so that students could access and edit the document during the lesson. (Video clips of the actual lesson to come!)
Gamer Strategy 1:
Recognize the features of digital text
Don’t assume students possess strong on-screen reader habits. Begin the year with a tutorial of this unique text type. Provide instruction on how to:
Assess if students know the various cursor symbols and meanings.
Provide instruction on how to navigate the internet by conducting advanced searches.
Edulastic allows teachers to search for technologically-enhanced questions and to create their own utilizing over 30 different formats…all for free!
Next Generation Assessments offers free interactive online activities that simulate technology tasks students complete on standardized assessments.
Gamer Strategy 2:
Vary on-screen reading purposes
The reading purpose impacts how a reader attacks a digital text. Provide explicit purposes for reading and the habits that accompany them.
Access resources used in the mini-lesson.
- Connect to the “Fidget Cube” blog post used within the lesson. (Blog no longer available.)
- Download the close-reading questions asked during the lesson.
- Access dozens of additional close-reading questions appropriate for viewing videos and visuals (printable at 8 x 14).
Compare each phase of close reading to a different “lens.”
- GLASSES: Initially, readers comprehend on a surface level. They read to paraphrase/retell specific details, summarize the important concepts, and determine the main ideas.
- MICROSCOPE: During a closer look, readers zoom in to analyze the text and evaluate author decisions about word choice, organization, and purpose.
- TELESCOPE: With a deeper comprehension of the text, readers zoom out and integrate new understanding from the text with other texts and bigger ideas.
Gamer Strategy 3:
Retrain skimmers, scanners, & scrollers
Tweak reading habits in order to compensate for the limited view of a screen.
- Read the hyperlinked outline to find out the gist of the text (i.e., skim) or to find a particular idea (i.e., scan). Wikipedia utilizes hyperlinked outlines regularly.
- Minimize the screen view in order to skim and see more of the text at the same time.
- Scan the most relevant sites, after conducting an advanced search.
- Search within a document or webpage using the find feature.
- In “Why the Brain Prefers Paper,” published by Scientific American, Erik Wastlund’s research reveals the impact of frequent scrolling.
Gamer Strategy 4:
Limit peripheral vision
Although there are many “interesting” places to go, on-screen readers must self-monitor the Distracting Voice, eliminate multi-tasking, and stay focused on the “mission” (the main text).
Avoid temptations by removing the clutter using one of a variety of extensions.
- Mercury Reader removes ads and distractions, leaving only text and images for a clean and consistent reading view on every site.
- Easy Reader can customize and improve the readability of any portion of a long web article.
- BeeLine Reader doesn’t remove but dims distracting elements and makes it easier to focus.
Gamer Strategy 5:
Beware of click bait
The internet makes it easy to access information immediately. However, information overload can also cause inefficient reading and poor comprehension.
- Determine the credibility, accuracy, and relevance of a hyperlink.
- Determine how to find out Who Is hosting a site.
- Know the 5 ways to spot fake news.
Gamer Strategy 6:
Track the reading journey
- Printed text flows from page to page with a clear beginning and ending. Hypertext, however, allows users to build their own texts.
- When reading on a screen, create a physical map of information on scratch paper.
- When clicking on a hyperlink, create a “branch” on the tree.
- Locate details quickly by scanning the map to determine where the information was stated within the digital text.
Analyze the research about on-screen reading
For research and rationale that support the strategies Kristina shared during this session, check out these resources.
