LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 13 : 3 March 2013
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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“Mental Modelling in Guided Reading & Paired Reading –
A Comparative Study”

J. Jaya Parveen M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. Candidate
V. Rajesh M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. Candidate

Abstract

In schools and colleges, reading comprehension is taught and tested. However, students lack reading fluency because they never practise reading at school or home. They are haunted by the media, and don't have interest in reading. Due to internal and external factors, they are deficient in reading readiness, reading attitude, reading comprehension, etc. They don't know the reading strategies or techniques for effective reading. They just memorise the answer choices and write the answers in the exams. They don't realise the importance of reading until they have to read and understand a lot of information in higher education and work environments.

Mental models are symbolic representations of how the mind holds abstract information. They can be in the form of pictures, gestures, analogies, concept maps, story webs, etc. Mental modelling can be used to enhance the reading process. Teachers can use guided reading or paired reading in the classrooms to develop mental modelling which in turn will boost up the reading readiness, reading attitude, reading comprehension, and reading fluency of the students.

An experimental study was conducted in VV College of Engineering to check whether guided reading and paired reading help the students in developing mental modelling which enhances their reading skills.

1. Background of the Study

OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Secretariat organises the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) annually to test the education systems around the world. It conducts tests and surveys in different schools across countries. India has the reputation of providing world-class education in schools and colleges. But it ranks second last among the 73 countries which participated in the PISA. (Chhapia, 2012) In the reading test, Tamilnadu and Himachal Pradesh students (who participated in the PISA as the representatives of Indian education system) scored better than only Kyrgyzstan. Their proficiency in reading literacy is estimated to be below the baseline level (Chhapia, 2012).

Reading is important to students who undergo higher education as they have to read, comprehend, and process a lot of information on their subjects. Reading fluency has three dimensions: word coding, automatic processing, and prosodic reading (Schreiber, 1991). This can be achieved by self-reading, guided reading, or paired reading. Guided reading is a small-group instruction supported by the teacher to help the students enhance their reading fluency (Fountas & Pinnell, 2001). Paired reading is a one-to-one instruction in which a proficient reader helps a budding reader in the classroom (Topping, 1987). Guided reading and paired reading can be done with the help of parents too.

Mental models are symbolic representations of how the mind holds abstract information. They enhance concept understanding and knowledge development. They also represent subjective ideas, thoughts, and feelings (Seel, 2003). According to Seel (1999), making the students understand the nature of mental modelling and help them develop good mental models has potentially great educational and economic benefits. Reading strategies and metacognition make the learning process explicit. Mental modelling enhances the learning process, and the learners who develop good mental models exhibit greater learning outcomes and efficiency than who use less adequate models in various domains. (Mayer, 1989) Guided reading and paired reading can be utilised in the classrooms to develop mental modelling which will help in enhancing the reading skills of the students.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

J. Jaya Parveen M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. Candidate
jayaparveen@gmail.com

V. Rajesh M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. Candidate
rajeshv.ph.d@gmail.com

Assistant Professors of English
V. V. College of Engineering
Tisaiyanvilai Full pin code
Tuticorin District
Tamilnadu
India
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