| The purpose of the study was to explore the reading strategies used by skilled fifth graders when reading on the Internet. Descriptive information about the participants' reading interests and abilities was collected from the classroom teacher and used for determining a purposeful sample. Participants and parents completed a questionnaire regarding Internet experience, and participants completed a pre-reading survey used to determine interest and activate prior knowledge.;Data relating to participants' thought processes when reading on the Internet were collected through a think-aloud protocol and a post-reading interview. Each participant selected two questions to be answered through searching the Internet. After locating each answer, the post-reading interview was conducted to collect additional thought processes and to explore participants' preferences for print text or Internet text.;A case study description was developed for each participant. First, the description included background information on the participant's abilities, interests, and Internet experience, as provided by the classroom teacher. Then the description detailed the thought processes used by the participant while reading on the Internet along with an interpretation by the researcher.;Specific strategy use was analyzed using a frequency matrix. Analysis revealed the most frequently used strategies to be Determining Important Ideas, Monitoring and Repairing Comprehension, Making Inferences, and Navigating. Further analysis of these strategies revealed the occurrence of a common flexible sequence used by participants in their Internet search, often involving the linking of Navigating with another reading strategy. Analysis also revealed the infrequent use of Summarizing, Asking Questions, and Activating Prior Knowledge, yet these strategies were observed in the choices participants made within their search.;Conclusions drawn from this study reveal the similarities and differences between the reading strategies used to read print text and Internet text. Strategies for comprehending print text can be applied to the reading of Internet text. However, intertwined among these is the strategy of Navigating, requiring the reader to not only construct meaning, but to do so with the speed and efficiency required to successfully navigate on the Internet. |
