Thoughts on a one week whatsApp course on enhancing reading skills with a mobile

G2: Enhancing Reading with Comprehension:

Flow/ structure :

Theme 1: The importance of Reading
Topic 1.1: The need for reading skills
Topic 1.2: Standards for Reading Achievement
Topic 1.3: Improving Reading Skills

Theme 2: Using Mobiles for Reading
Topic 2.1: UNESCO initiatives
Topic 2.2: Improving Spelling with Mobiles
Topic 2.3: Building a Vocabulary with Mobiles

Theme 3: Reading with Comprehension
Topic 3.1: The what, why and how do we read?
Topic 3.2: Reading techniques
Topic 3.3: Improving reading speed

Theme 4: Visual Reading
Topic 4.1: Reading Charts, Graphs and Diagrams
Topic 4.2: Infographics and Pinterest PINs
Topic 4.3: Emojis : the new words in the dictionary

Theme 5: Technology-enabled reading
Topic 5.1: Braille and screen reading software
Topic 5.2: Tools to measure reading with comprehension speed
Topic 5.3: Reading and machine intelligence

Theme 6: The next steps: Resources
Topic 6.1: Books
Topic 6.2: MOOCs and OERs
Topic 6.3: Apps
Topic 6.4: Weblinks and Web-resources
Topic 6.5: Getting Mentored

——————————
Course delivery model:

The course begins on a Monday, runs through Friday and Saturday is used for wrapping up, and/or tasks for certification.
The group actually gets formed the preceding Saturday and Saturday and Sunday are used for the group introducing themselves briefly.
The group is kept ‘alive’ till the next Wednesday to allow any follow up queries or comments.
After the group is closed, members become part of the alumni community and can seek help and support as alumni.

The default structure of each module is that it is structured as 5 themes, with one theme running from Monday to Friday. Each theme is further broken into 3 to 5 topics. So everyday there would be between 3 to 5 posts, some text, some images and some audios. There may also be pictures or videos. Each post will have an ID, typically the initials of the instructor followed with a serial number. Many courses may have more than one instructor and it is helpful if while making queries, the ID of the post is referred to.

Much of the content posted is curated content and in the form of annotations and insights and in the nature of response to learners comments and queries.
This program is a very brief introduction to share enough information about the subject to create an interest, desire and motivation to pursue this further. Information on additional resources which can be used for self-study are provided during the week. For those who want further supervised guidance, opportunity for being ‘mentored’ can be created, with duration in quanta of 3 months

Additional Resources for improving reading skills, on a mobile:

A: Books:
1: How to read a book by Mortimer J Adler, Simon and Schuster New York
2: Developing Reading Skills : A practical guide to reading comprehension exercises by Francoise Grellet , Cambridge University Press
3: How to Increase Reading Ability; A Guide to Developmental and Remedial Methods by Harris, Albert J , David McKay Co. New York
4: Triple Your Reading Speed by Wade E Cutler, Pocket Books
5: Learn to speed read (e-book) by Kris Madden, published by krismadden.com

B: Improving reading with Mobile phones :

1:http://www.teachthought.com/uncategorized/15-of-the-best-educational-apps-for-improved-reading-comprehension/

2: Tools for measuring reading with comprehension : http://www.ettc.net/trainer/handouts/readinghandouts.pdf

3: Software to help speed read : Spreeder ; eyercize; pocket ; accelerated speed reading trainer ; reading trainer ; readspeeder

4:http://www.readingrockets.org/helping/questions

5:http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/developing-reading-skills/improve-reading-comprehension

6:http://www.phschool.com/eteach/language_arts/2002_12/essay.html

7: http://www.slu.edu/retention-and-academic-success/academic-coaching/resources/reading-comprehension-and-retention

8:http://englishforeveryone.org/Topics/Reading-Comprehension.htm

C: Apps :
1:http://www.teachthought.com/uncategorized/15-of-the-best-educational-apps-for-improved-reading-comprehension/

D: PDFs: these can be stored in Evernote or in iBooks

1:http://www.superduperinc.com/handouts/pdf/136_Reading_Comprehension_Difficulties.pdf

2:http://www.sosyalarastirmalar.com/cilt1/sayi2/sayi2pdf/cubukcu_feryal.pdf
3:https://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/inspire/research/WW_Word_Study.pdf
4:http://www.eworkshop.on.ca/edu/resources/guides/Reading_K_3_English.pdf
5:https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1465/MR1465.ch4.pdf

E: MOOCs:
1:http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com/2012/07/31/improve-your-reading-comprehension-with-speed-reading-strategies/

About mmpant

Prof. M.M.Pant has a Ph.D in Computational Physics, along with a Professional Law Degree, and has been a practitioner in the fields of Law, IT enabled education and IT implementation. Drawing upon his experience in world class international institutions and having taught in various modes of Face-to-Face, Distance Learning and Technology Enhanced Training, Prof. Pant is now exploring the nature of institutions which will be successors to the IITs, which represented the 1960s, IIMs, which represented the 1970 and Open Universities which were the rage of 1980s & 90s. He believes that the convergence between various media and technologies would fundamentally alter the way learning would be created, packaged, and delivered to learners. His current activities are all directed toward actual implementation of these new age educational initiatives that transform education in the post Internet post WTO era.. Prof. Pant, has been a Former Pro-Vice Chancellor, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and has been on the faculty of IIT – Kanpur (the premier Engineering institution in India), MLNR Engineering College and Faculty & Visiting Professor - University of Western Ontario-Canada. He has been visiting scientist to research centers in Italy, England, Germany & Sweden and has delivered international lectures with about 80 papers published. During his association of almost 15 years with the IGNOU, Prof. Pant has served as the Director Computing and has been the Member of All Bodies (i.e. School boards, Academic council, Planning board, Finance committee and the Board of management). With his interest in Law, backed with practice of Law in a High Court, and his basic training in Science and IT, Prof. Pant has been particularly interested in the Cyber Law, Patent & trade mark issues, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) issues etc. and has been involved with many activities, conferences on “Law & IT” Prof. Pant is presently; • Advisor to Media Lab Asia - Chairman of working group on ICT for Education, chairman of PRSG handling projects on ICT for education. • Lead Consultant for an ADB funded project for ICT in Basic Education in Uzbekistan • Member of the drafting Group for India’s National Policy on ICT in education • Chairman of the group creating books for class 11 and 12 students on ‘Computers and Communication Technology’ appointed by the NCERT • Preparing a ‘Theme Paper” for the NCTE in the area of ICT and Teacher Training • Advisor and mentor to several leading Indian and Multi-national Companies in the area of education. Prof. Pant has in the recent past been ; • Member – Board of Management – I I T, Delhi for 6 years (two consecutive terms) • One-man committee to create the Project Report & Legislation for Delhi IT-enabled Open University • Advisor to the Delhi Government on Asian Network of Major Cities Project (ANMC-21) distance learning project in association with Tokyo Metropolitan Government. • Chairman Board of Studies, All India Management Association With his mission to create and implement new business opportunities in the area of e-learning & learning facilitation, Prof. Pant has promoted Planet EDU Pvt. Ltd., as its Founder & Chairman, along with a team of highly experienced and skilled professionals from Education & Training, Operations, IT and Finance.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply