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Digital Enhancement
/ Already Enhanced Text
What it is:
Think of all the enhancements found in a typical textbook, such as charts, diagrams, photographs, highlighted words, definitions, timelines, and small "chunks" of text. A related reader's guide for English learners might include definitions of difficult words, cultural context, and explanations of idioms.
Put all these types of resources into an electronic document or website, and you have the textbook of the future. Today we can find an increasing number of sources with added information (e.g., questions, links, graphics, sound or videos) to enhance comprehension.
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How does it work:
Here are some great examples:
The Intersect Digital Library features "Supported Text" books incorporating resources and study strategies that help students learn more from what they read, along with lesson plans. Current enhanced titles include:- The Diary of Opal Whiteley
- The Diary of Juan Bautista de Anza
- Your Genes, Your Choices: Cloning
- On the Run
- An American History Sourcebook
- Articles of Confederation
Knowing Poe is a rich collection on the life, times, and literature of Edgar Allen Poe, illustrated with a timeline, historical pictures, text of poems and stories, as well as video and audio clips.
Prentice Hall Interactive Text Books
Samples are open to public viewing. Literature selections include the following supports:- Preview with Visual Summary
- Literature Analysis
- Reading Strategies
- Author Biographies
- Additional Questions
- Links to External Websites
- Internet Activities and Research
- Background Video Clips
- Self-tests
Wikipedia.org is an amazing, free online, hyperlinked encyclopedia. As an example, visit the entry for Arizona. There is even a version called Simple English Wickipedia, written for with easier words and shorter sentences, for English-learners or struggling readers.
Windows to the Universe allows you to view the same material at different ability levels (such as Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced.) This feature can allow all of your students to access the content at a level they can understand. This site is a free "learning system" which includes games, an online journal space, video clips, science information and activities, current news stories, and a wealth of accessible materials.
Classroom Examples:
First graders take turns working in pairs at the single classroom computer where they visit Starfall.com and find 15 books in the Learn to Read section. Each book has a related animated movie or video clip that introduces a concept such as a short vowel sound. The books have rich illustrations and will read aloud words that are clicked, with special emphasis on the sound of each letter. Then, a game allows students to make the word to match a picture by choosing and dragging the right letter. This works well for students who need extra practice, have difficulty following instructions given to the entire class, and are motivated by the music and animation of the program. Printed worksheets are available to support the lessons, providing desk work or homework practice.
Visit Tom Snyder's site to view two animated clips. The first shows the features of Thinking Reader software, an enhanced text product which teaches the use of 7 research-based reading comprehension strategies using core literature. The second clip discusses research on enhanced text which showed that students could implement the strategies learned from computer-based reading to other reading.
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