Even scientists can learn from Dennis’ advice. Andrew Boryga writes about “Helping
Students Read Complex Texts” (15 Nov 2024, Edutopia,
edutopia.org, top
image). My immediate edit: “Helping Students Understand Complex Texts.” Not
simply Read: Understand.
(image from freepik.com)
Mr Boryga says:
“We’ve all had the experience. We’re reading along and
suddenly realize that although our eyes are scanning the words on the page,
nothing is actually registering.”
Mr Boryga, it always
happens with technical material – I say that with my experience of being The Editor In Chief (TEIC) of a good
number of Philippine-based publications in Agriculture
and Forestry. And it happened beginning
at the Typewriter Era (1975-1980)
and continuing to now, Digital Era, in
my case starting 2000, blogging. In particular, I will mention being TEIC of
the Philippine Journal of Crop Science
(PJCS), owned by the Crop Science Society
of the Philippines. The PJCS was 3 years late in its issues when I took
over in 2003. Literally single-handedly, being TEIC, I produced the issues of 3-year-late
PJCS and (1) made it up-to-date within 3 years (2006), and (2) improved its
quality that it was included in the much-coveted international list of
expert-accepted technical journals called “ISI” (now “Web of Science”) in 2007.
So I know: Anybody’s
understanding technical material is not easy – I also know that the Internet
can help tremendously.
In “Helping
Students Read Complex Texts,” Mr Boryga introduces his material by saying, “By
cultivating metacognitive reading habits, you can help students remain focused
as they persist through challenging material.”
“Metacogntive” – By
itself, Mr Boryga, your language is much too deep for students to understand at
once! Personally, my editorial experience of 50 years does not help me understand
the word “metacognitive” in the introduction. No idea.
So! As a digital
writer of 24 years, my advice is much simpler, in only 7 words: “Google,
google, google! Then, read, read, read!” Only then can you understand.
On the statement, “By
cultivating metacognitive reading habits, you can help students remain focused
as they persist through challenging material,” I say – teach the students to
search the Internet for knowledge, especially those terms they don’t understand
– search and read, search and read until they understand!
The objective is
not for students to remain focused “through challenging material” but to help
themselves understand the material. They will understand any complex
material if they search the Internet diligently, if they search repeatedly, not
just once or twice.
(Not to mention
that teachers should learn to simplify their language in the first place!)
Mr Boryga says:
“In a 2024 study of “mindless reading,” researchers
from the University of Würzburg tracked the reading speed and attention of
undergrads poring over a complex science text. ,,, Students confirmed multiple
instances of loss of attention.”
Exactly! Technical material is hard to understand – but Internet searches for intellectually reachable meaning should help tremendously!@517
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