Compare and Contrast Electronic Text With Traditionally Printed Text

Overview

From Theory to Practice

OVERVIEW

With the increased use of the Internet, it is important for students to become familiar with the unique characteristics of electronic texts so that they are able to navigate them effectively and efficiently. This lesson supports sixth- through eighth-grade students' exploration of an online educational website that incorporates a variety of electronic features including graphics, digitized speech, and video. During this lesson, students compare and contrast the characteristics of electronic text with the characteristics of traditionally printed text, gaining a deeper understanding of how to navigate and comprehend information found on the Internet.

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FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE

Karchmer, R.A. (2001). The journey ahead: Thirteen teachers report how the Internet influences literacy and literacy instruction in their K–12 classrooms. Reading Research Quarterly, 36(4), 442–466.

• Electronic or digital texts have several unique characteristics that set them apart from traditionally printed texts.
  
  
• Teachers are beginning to explore the ways the Internet affects reading and writing in their classrooms.
  

Leu, D.J. (2000). Internet Workshop: Making time for literacy. The Reading Teacher, 55(5), 466–472. Available: http://www.readingonline.org/electronic/elec_index.asp?HREF=/electronic/rt/2-02_Column/index.html

Internet Workshop consists of an independent reading of information on the Internet around a topic and a location initially designated by the teacher; it concludes with a short workshop session where students can share and exchange the ideas and strategies they discovered during their work on the Internet.

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