Imbedded Aids: textbook redesign placing teacher-like assistance in the text¶

Element · All elements
Evidence · 2 claims (2 for) · 1 study (1 causal), q2 · 1 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description¶

A proposed major modification summarized as "to put a teacher in every textbook who is willing and able to provide assistance as the need arises", achieved through textbook redesign containing "'Imbedded Aids' (Manzo, 1974) to readers". The article reports research is still underway and that "current prototypes and early data suggest that 'Imbedded Aids' are feasible and practicable", with fuller description deferred to a tandem article in preparation.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Textbooks must be redesigned so aids are embedded where readers need assistance

Constraints¶

• Research is still underway; evidence cited is only prototypes and early data, with full description in a forthcoming article

Target Learners¶

• post-elementary readers using content-area textbooks

Target Learning Goals¶

• independent reading comprehension of textbooks

Affordances¶

• Languaging In Content Areas Thesis

Claims¶

• Students and teachers respond favorably to embedded aids: approximately 90% of students reported no difficulty understanding or using the aids, and over 75% wanted similar aids throughout the book. [+W]
• Textual material treated with embedded aids produced 10-15% higher reading comprehension scores than conventional text, statistically significant at the .01 level, in a science-material study with approximately 200 tenth graders across three schools. [+W]

Related Elements¶

• In-process comprehension checks embedded within the text
• Vocabulary assistance embedded directly in the text
• Precis summary notes placed alongside the basic text
• Ad hoc instructional strategy integrating deep- or shallow-processing cognitive prompts into a psychology coursebook chapter

Examples¶

• Embed units of assistance and enrichment into the fabric of textual material so they are unobtrusive yet available for reader use

Key Sources¶

• Manzo, Anthony V.; Sherk, John K., Jr. (1977). Reading and "Languaging in the Content Areas" A Third Generational Approach. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED136190