Teaching Students How to Read a Web Page


Ellen Hoffenberg-Serfaty, J.D.

We take it for granted--open your browser, click on a favorite, or a link in your e-mail, and start reading. But is it that simple?
The purpose of this module is to give you a chance to take a step back, reflect on how web pages differ from other texts you have taught in the EFL classroom, and think about how to apply your new insights to your teaching.

What kind of skills do SEN students need to learn to read web pages? Should we consider web pages a new genre of writing? A new text type? Are there certain rules that apply?

In a text, the writer leads the reader through a series of points, A to Z, according to a specific plan. And the reader generally follows. But on web page, or "hyper-text" we have a different situation. Although a web-page writer/designer can lead the reader through a planned set of navigational links, we know from experience that web readers can take very different paths than the writer intended. The reader has a wide range of choices on how deeply to pursue a concept, which key words to focus in on, and how they will review the points presented.

How do SEN students, who generally have weaker reading skills, couples with their lack of proficiency in English, manage hypertext pages? What kind of pages do we choose? How can we "scaffold" this new genre for them to make it an enjoyable experience that they can apply to new surfing sessions?

Review some of these resources. Part of your assignment for this module is to post your reflections to the foregoing questions on our forum. Include a link from an article or site that has "jump-started" your reflections for this section.

And don't forget your lessons from last summer: What is an accessible web for SEN students? Go back and review what you learned.
Especially useful: Web Design for Dyslexic Users

Some ideas for teaching SEN students about web texts

When I introduce students to web pages, I try to select pages on the web that are fairly straightforward, with good color contrast, with a limited amount of information. And rather than focus on reading texts, per se, I choose a table format and some easy questions that will help them understand the information.

Music is a great subject, and music charts are a great way to start reading the web. Here are two Yahoo music chart sites, with different amounts of detail for the main text:
Billboard 200 with Artist and record title and Billboard 200 Details

After students have a bit of success working with a main text, without reference to other information, I generally teach them about understanding web pages. The following powerpoint presentation that I use in my classes will give you some ideas about how to introduce different kinds of web texts, and some strategies about reading web pages.
What kind of text?

Your assignment

In addition to posting a link and your reflections on the questions I posed at the beginning of this page on the forum, you need to select a web page from the net, and think about how to teach students about how to navigate it. Just one example will do--one screenshot with some pointers, or a short checklist.

Want a really fun site to start with?
My students love anything from the Discovery Channel site. Lots of interesting information, lots of action, sound...and its about animals! Especially the Live Cams. And especially the sharks! You need Real Video, or another viewer, but it is worth it.


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