Text as we know it is read differently on the internet. Text in books is read in a linear and sequential manner while online there are special characteristics: non-linearity, multiple modalities, intertextuality and interactivity.
- Non- linearity – readers impose their own needs on the text and may read in any direction; in effect reconfiguring the physical organisation of the page.
- Multiple modalities- words, images and sound are incorporated to create meaning. Readers need to know how to interpret each mode and its contribution to the overall comprehension of the text.
- Intertextuality- related text influence each other on the net. Readers prioritize, assess and combine information being read.
- Interactivity- readers are engaged by interactive features which allow them to adapt their search, listen to video clips, play games etc.
These features require that today’s students acquire skills in:
- Navigating- searching for and locating information on the net
- Co- authoring- editing and imposing structure on texts they are reading
- Evaluating the accuracy, relevance and quality of what they are reading and
- Synthesizing information from multiple texts.
Today’s pupils are already engaged in many online activities such as playing interactive games, e-mailing and collaborating on social networks such as Facebook and U –Tube. It is therefore imperative that teachers in general and teachers of reading in particular teach their students to use the internet and other information communication technologies successfully in order to prepare for life in the 21st century.
Reference:
Tompkins, G. (2010). Literacy for the 21st Century: A balanced Approach.
Boston: Allyn and Bacon
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