Compare and Contrast Electronic Text With Traditionally Printed Text

Materials and Technology

Student Interactives

Printouts

Websites

Preparation

 

MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY

• Content area textbook
  
  
• Internet access with a projection device

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STUDENT INTERACTIVES

Grades   K – 12  |  Student Interactive  |  Organizing & Summarizing

Venn Diagram

This interactive tool allows students to create Venn diagrams that contain two or three overlapping circles, enabling them to organize their information logically.

 

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PRINTOUTS

Internet Workshop Form

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WEBSITES

• The Journey Ahead: Thirteen Teachers Report How the Internet Influences Literacy and Literacy Instruction in Their K–12 Classrooms (IRA, 2001)
• Cow's Eye Dissection website
• Internet Workshop: Making Time for Literacy (IRA, 2000)

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PREPARATION

Prerequisite

As a prerequisite for this lesson, students should already know how to generally navigate a website, such as how to type in the correct URL, how to use the back and forward buttons, and how to click on links.

Teacher Preparation

1.	Read the article The journey ahead: Thirteen teachers report how the Internet influences literacy and literacy instruction in their K-12 classrooms, which was originally published in Reading Research Quarterly.
2.	Preview the website Cow's Eye Dissection and click on "Step-by-Step: Dissecting a Cow's Eye." Download Real Audio Player from the website if you do not already have it on your computer. This should take only a few minutes. Click "Continue" and navigate the site by clicking on all of the hyperlinks (i.e., the red underlined words) and walking through all 13 steps.
3.	As you navigate the site, think about how reading this Internet site is similar and different to reading a traditionally printed page. Make a list of those similarities and differences. Also, think about the writing skills needed to create a presentation that incorporates all of the unique features found on this site (e.g., hyperlinks, audio). Make a list of those skills.
4.	Think about the students in your class (i.e., their grade level, age, and ability). In light of the unique characteristics of electronic text, what skills do you need to introduce or reinforce to your students so that they can effectively and efficiently read text on the Internet?

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