Our goal in this article is to examine two ways in which recent psychological theory has influenced the use of computers in reading instruction. In particular, we look at two competing theories, the componential and the constructivist, and the implications that each carries for computer-based practice. To exemplify these perspectives, we examine two computer environments, RACER and the Reader's Assistant. In conclusion, we put forward the notion of “contextualization” as a basis for integrating the componential and constructivist approaches into a sensible model of computer use in the special education classroom.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Anderson, R.Hiebert, E., Scott, J., & Wilkinson, I. (1985). Becoming a nation of readers: The report of the Commission on ReadingWashington DC: National Institute of Education.
2.
Bock, J. & Brewer, W. (1985). Discourse structure and mental models (Tech. Rep. No. 343). Champaign: University of Illinois, Center for the Study of Reading.
3.
Bransford, J.Barclay, J., & Franks, J. (1972). Sentence memory: A constructive versus interpretive approach. Cognitive Psychology, 3, 193-209.
4.
Brown, A. & Campione, J. (1986). Psychological theory and the study of learning disabilities. American Psychologist, 14, 1059-1068.
5.
Brown, A. & Palincsar, A.S. (in press). Guided, cooperative learning and individual knowledge acquisition. In L.B. Resnick (Ed.), Cognition and instruction: Issues and agendas. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Bruce, B. (1981). A social interaction model of reading.Discourse Processes, 4, 273-311.
8.
Collins, A.Brown, J.S., & Larkin, K. (1980). Inference in text understanding. In R.J. Spiro, B. C. Bruce, & W. F. Brewer, (Eds.), Theoretical issues in reading comprehension (pp. 385-410). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
9.
Collins, A. & Brown, J.S. (in press). The computer as a tool for learning through reflection. In H. Mandl & A.M. Lesgold (Eds.), Learning issues for intelligent tutoring systems. New York: Springer.
10.
Collins, A. Brown., J.S., & Newman, S. (in press). Cognitive apprenticeship: Teaching the crafts of reading, writing and mathematics. In L.B. Resnick (ed.), Cognition and instruction: Issues and agendas. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
11.
Collins, A. & Smith, E.E. (1982). Teaching the process of reading comprehension. In D. K. Detterman & R. J. Sternberg, (Eds.), How much and how can intelligence be increased? (pp. 173-185). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
12.
Curtis, M.E. (1980). Development of components of reading skill. Journal of Educational Psychology, 72, 656-669.
13.
Frederiksen, J. & Warren, B. (1987). A cognitive framework for developing expertise in reading. In R. Glaser (Ed.), Advances in instructional psychology, Vol. III (pp. 1-40). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
14.
Frederiksen, J.Warren, B., & Rosebery, A. (1985a). A componential approach to training reading skills: Part 2. Decoding and use of context. Cognition and Instruction, 2, 271-338.
15.
Frederiksen, J.Warren, B., & Rosebery, A. (1985b). A componential approach to training reading skills: Part 1. Perceptual units training. Cognition and Instruction, 2, 91-130.
16.
Malone, T.W. (1981). Toward a theory of intrinsically motivating instruction. Cognitive Science, 5, 333-369.
17.
Palincsar, A. & Brown, A. (1984). Reciprocal teaching of comprehension-fostering and comprehension-monitoring activities. Cognition and Instruction, 1, 117-175.
18.
Palincsar, A. & Brown, A. (in press). Teaching and practicing thinking skills to promote comprehension in the context of group problem solving. Remedial and Special Education.
19.
Perfetti, C. (1985). Reading abilityNew York: Oxford University Press.
20.
Rosebery, A.S. (1986a). Semantic and syntactic bases of text comprehension (Tech. Rep. No. 6010). Cambridge, MA: BBN Laboratories, Inc.
21.
Rosebery, A.S. (1986b, December). The reader's assistant: A microcomputer based environment for text comprehension. Paper presented at the National Reading Conference, Austin, TX.
22.
Rosebery, A.S., Flower, L., Warren, B., Bowen, B., Bruce, B., Kantz, M., & Penrose, A. (in press). The problem solving processes of writers and readers. In A. Dyson (Ed.), Writing and reading: Collaboration in the classroom. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English.
23.
Spiro, R. (1980). Constructive processes in prose comprehension and recall. In R. Spiro, B. Bruce., & W. Brewer (Eds.), Theoretical issues in reading comprehension (pp. 245-278). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
24.
Spiro, R.Bruce, B., & Brewer, W. (Eds.). (1980). Theoretical issues in reading comprehensionHillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
25.
Warren, B. (1986a). Aspects of skill in understanding high order semantic relations (Tech. Rep. No. 6009). Cambridge, MA: BBN Laboratories, Inc.
26.
Warren, B. (1986b, December). A cognitive science perspective on computers in reading. Paper presented at the National Reading Conference, Austin, TX.
