EL+Rethinking+Online+Reading+Assessment

Rethinking Online Reading Assessment. http://ezp.sxu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=36666627&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live

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**Reflection of "Rethinking Online Reading Assessment"**
//by: Katie Coon//

I feel this article really opened my eyes to the skills needed to read online text compared to those skills needed to read paper text. Though I always knew the skills varied, I'm not sure that I ever really pinpointed what the differences were. In both my personal experience and observing my students' experiences, I feel the biggest struggle is locating information. When given a textbook and told to locate information, they can "hunt and peck" on just a few short pages until they find the answer. Like this article discussed, the Internet provides nearly endless resources to find the appropriate information to answer a question. I think that students, or anyone not familiar with online reading, easily become overwhelmed with the amount of information. Often times, many people will "give up" if the information is not found instantly on the first website they click on. I think it is important for us as educators to take the time in class to stress to students that information may have to be and //should be// collected from more than one than source in order to get the most valid and reliable information.

I also really liked the idea of administering surveys throughout the year to gauge student confidence with online reading. This not only serves as a measure for student progress throughout the year, but it also serves as tool to scaffold instruction for students that may excel in one area but are weak in others. This information can be used to help individual students where they need it most instead of presenting the same information to all students whom may be at different levels.

My district currently uses an online reading program called ALEKS. This is the first year using it to assess reading comprehension levels of incoming freshman. As far as I know, the program puts up an online version of a passage, similar to if it were on paper. At the end of the passage there is a series of questions relating to the passage. Though this does not require students to utilize different websites to gather information, I do wonder if it affects the students' scores since it is online text versus paper text. This is something that I will pass onto the program coordinator, as this information could help modify the use and implementation of this program at my school district.

Hi Katie,

Wow...I did not realize that there actually is a difference! I thought I may be going crazy, but a few of my texts are online and I can't stand reading them this way! Now, I understand why! I'm glad you are bringing this to you school's attention. Thank you for sharing!

Ilse