New England Reading Association

60th Annual Conference

Springfield, MA

Teaching Online and Offline Reading Comprehension

With the Literature Cyberlesson

by

Julia Kara-Soteriou, Ph.D.

Central Connecticut State University

What is a Literature Cyberlesson?

- a technology-based instructional framework that helps students study literaturewith the support of the Internet and other multi-media technologies

Major Components of a Literature Cyberlesson:

1. Introduction:

Lets the audience know what is coming and provides background information.Generates interest and/or describes a compelling problem.

Short. First slide/page.

2. Materials:

The list of resources and materials, from beginning to end.

3. Before Reading Activities:

Build background knowledge and generate interest in the book.Help the readers make predictions.

Set the purpose for reading.

At least one Internet-based activity.

4. During Reading Activities:

Support the readers’ move through the text by helping them keep track of eventsand/or generating and confirming predictions.

Different types of activities, some with and some without the use of the Internet.

Activities focus on the book’s content as well as specific literacy skills.

5. After Reading Activities:

Should encourage the readers to respond to, revisit and/or rethink about the text.

Dr. Julia Kara-Soteriou Email: karaiou@ccsu.edu Tel.: 860-832-2181

 

 

New England Reading Association

60th Annual Conference

Springfield, MA

6. Beyond Reading Activities:

Help the readers extend beyond the text by making connections to other related

texts.Help provide more background information to an aspect of the book that has not

 been elaborated (i.e., information about the setting, time frame etc.).

Encourage online searches and discussions on how to effectively search andevaluate websites.

7. Rubric:

Identifies what the reader has to do and to what degree in order to complete the

Literature Cyberlesson successfully.

Helps the reader to assess if tasks were completed satisfactorily.

8. Credit page:Cites Internet resources and graphics and other references, where applicable.

Last slide/page of the Literature Cyberlesson.

Where can I find Literature Cyberlessons on the Internet?

Go to Internet Project: Cyberlesson at

http://www.reading.ccsu.edu/kurkjian/Internet%20Project/new_page_1.htm.(Classroom teachers developed and posted Literature Cyberlessons, which they used with

their students.)

Another way to access this site:

Go to the website of the Dept. of Reading and Language Arts (CCSU) at

http://www.reading.ccsu.edu/. Scroll down the page and click on the name “CatherineKurkjian” (first line below the photo). You will be taken to Dr. Kurkjian’s CCSU website.

While there, click on the link “Personal Site.” You will be taken to Dr. Kurkjian’s detailed

website (http://www.reading.ccsu.edu/Kurkjian/Default1.html) where you should click on

“Cyberlesson Internet Project Showcase” to access more than 40 literature cyberlessonscreated by educators in grades 1-8

(http://www.reading.ccsu.edu/Kurkjian/Internet%20Project/new_page_1.htm).

Dr. Julia Kara-Soteriou Email: karaiou@ccsu.edu Tel.: 860-832-2181