Wanderings…

Reading Comprehension On the Internet

I am very interested in reading comprehension as it relates to text read online. I will use this page to assemble articles that deal with the topic.

I hope anyone who happens across this page  will share relevant citations and/or links to articles on the net or available via databases.

In no order at all – here is what I have found so far:

Coiro, Julie. “Reading comprehension on the Internet: Expanding our understanding of reading
comprehension to encompass new literacies.” The Reading Teacher Feb. 2003: 56-61.
Reading Online. Mar. 2003. 24 Oct. 2008
<http://www.readingonline.org/electronic/elec_index.asp?href=/electronic/rt/2-03_column/index.html>.

This article includes a lengthy bibliography. Both the articles and its sources are a little dated at this point. There must be something newer out there.

MORE SOURCES TO EXPLORE……

Birkerts, Sven. ”The truth about reading: it’s easy to blame technology for our younger generation’s declining interest in literature. But what, if anything, can be done about it?.” School Library Journal 50.11 (Nov 2004): 50(3). Business and Company ASAP. Gale. Gananda High School. 30 Apr. 2009
http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?prodId=IPS.

Technology and books: Is the novel too much for our technology-addled brains?|

Wikipedia hoax points to limits of journalists’ research

A sociology student placed a fake quote on Wikipedia, only to see it show up in prominent newspapers, revealing that a lot of the press doesn’t go much further than most ‘Net users when it comes to researching a story.

I use Wikipedia myself.  I support my kids using it – with qualifications.  I try to make them understand that it is a jumping-off point – and should never be the center of serious research.  As librarians, we can “not allow” it to be used, and preach the “evils” of Wikipedia – but people ARE going to use it.  For that reason, I teach my students how to use it skeptically.

Nevertheless, incidents like this are a big concern.   With all its wonders, I often fear that the internet is contributing to rampant lazy research in and out of schools.  Expressing these worries often results in derision.  Luddite being a popular accusation.  I cringe when I hear that word.  It is often a way to marginalize those of us who have feet planted in BOTH worlds – the new 21st Century Literacy and the more “traditional” approach to reading and research.  I LOVE the new tools we have at our disposal.  I LOVE the expanse of the internet, with its seemingly limitless ability to expand our thinking.  I see the benefits of skimming the surface of knowledge and the perspective that provides. I once saw surfing the net compared to riding a Jet Ski.  But what about deep sea diving?  We have become so distracted and addicted to speed, that I have to wonder what might happen to deep reading and deep thinking.

I had hoped that the print news at least would maintain research standards – but they are only as good as their individual reporters.  Also, given the precipitous drop in their revenue, newspapers are cutting journalists and  research budgets.  If newspapers die, I wonder how long it will be before the bloggers are all blogging about whatever the other person is blogging and that other person is blogging complete fantasy “news” – because there are no more paid journalists doing real primary research for anyone to blog about.