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Reading on the Internet
    Today’s lecture is about reading on the Internet. We also say reading online.
    (1)The union of reading and technology on the Internet is causing educators to take a new look at what it means to be literate in today’s society.(2)New forms of literacy call upon students to know how to read and write not only in the print world but also in the digital world.(3)Today’s definition of literacy is being broadened to include " literacy skills necessary for individuals, groups and societies to access the best information in the shortest time to identify and solve the most important problems and then communicate this information". The Internet has provided the world of work with global competition and an informational economy.(4)Knowing how to access, evaluate and apply information is necessary for success in the workplace and at school.
    Being able to successfully use the Internet places special demands on the reader.(5)First, the Internet reader must be able to handle the sheer volume of text, which can be described as massive. The potential for gathering information is virtually unlimited. Through links, or Internet connections, a reader can access innumerable sites related to the original idea or topic of a search.(6)Second, much Internet content has blinking graphics, vivid color and lots of eyecatching phrases that can guide or distract us from reading. A reader must be able to evaluate all the features of a webpage and quickly decide which one will likely be the most helpful in accessing information.(7)Thirds, most of the text on the Internet is expository. Being able to read such text requires familiarity with its concepts, vocabulary and organizational format. In an analysis of 50 websites, 48 contained expository text, while 2 sites contained narrative text. Expository text is usually found on the Internet written as hypertext where highlighted elements within it, such as a word or phrase, are linked to other texts. Each link can lead to a definition, additional information, or a video or an audio example related to the original linked word or phrase.
    By selecting links in various orders, a reader creates his or her own path when reading on the Internet. This path can be ever changing because information on the Internet is ever changing, with websites continually being updated, removed, or remodeled. Text on the Internet is not static whereas the text of a book remains the same each time the book is opened. The Internet is " an interactive model of continuously updating information" , which requires a rethinking of what it means to be a reader or even a literate person. Because of technology, our definition of reading has changed to include websites, e-books, e-mails, discussion boards, chat rooms, instant messaging, and so on.
    Technology is transforming the nature of literacy. This change is evident when the skills of reading and using technology converge as students search for information or answer questions with the Internet. How can educators help students use their reading strategies to understand the electronic word? Many literacy educators are currently watching the convergence of literacy and technology, and they are seeking answers to this very question.
    That’s all for today’s lecture. Thank you.