Over the past six months, we have been piloting and refining a fully online, extensive reading (ER) program for the Avenue community using the Xreading program. See the Moving Forward with Extensive Reading in the LINC Context blog post for more information. Many LINC instructors have shown interest in a blended learning ER solution for students as they are now returning to their centres. In this post, we offer a potential solution and an invitation to a webinar for implementing and facilitating a blended learning ER program using the MReader tool.
MReader
The Mreader is a free, online resource used to promote ER. MReader provides a tracking apparatus that includes a database of thousands of timed, randomized quizzes for English graded readers. Students choose a printed book, read it and take an online quiz at their convenience. MReader’s online tracking system documents students’ reading activity, generates activity reports and awards them with badges that are designed to motivate students to continue reading.
Fully Online vs Blended Extensive Reading
Our fully online extensive reading program, Xreading, involves a comprehensive online library that provides graded reading materials, assessment opportunities, students activity tracking, virtual classrooms and a means to regulate learner reading materials by genre, reading level or volume.
The blended learning extensive reading counterpart, the MReader, has all the features of the fully online program except that it does not include online reading resources, and learners read printed or alternate digital graded readers.
This table displays a comparison between Xreading and the MReader. Note that the only difference is the source of reading materials.
|
Features |
Xreading (Fully Online) |
MReading (Blended) |
|
Includes digital reading materials online |
Yes |
No |
|
Paper Graded Readers |
No |
Yes |
|
Online tracking database |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Online quizzes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Quiz authoring (create our own) |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Set class reading parameters |
Yes |
Yes |
Reading Materials
Blended learning extensive reading materials are bountiful as there are numerous online sources and traditional paper graded readers. Learners using the MReader can locate book titles online or in paper format and find the associated MReader quiz. Possible location of printed reading materials for the MReader are:
- Your centre’s resource room
- Your institution’s library
- Public libraries (paper and online)
- Discount book stores/depots
- Teachers’ personal collections
- Alternate digital sources
Why not use Xreading for blended Learning?
This is a valid question as Xreading is a single source for ER books, management and assessments. There is no reason why an instructor can’t implement ER in a blended situation with Xreading; however, the main issue would be the subscription fee. Another issue is that teachers may prefer to encourage reading from paper to promote a lifelong reading habit. MReader is free and offers the option to work with paper books.
Final Thoughts
Whether you choose a fully online, blended learning or a paper-based in-house mode of implementing ER with your learners, students will benefit from more exposure to the target language. Hopefully, our blog posts, upcoming articles, resources and webinars will be helpful for making ER available to your students. If you have any constructive comments to support your peers with establishing an extensive reading program in tier classes or centres, please post them in the comment section.
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For more information and live demonstrations, please join us for a Tutela webinar: Extended Reading Options for Blended Learning Classes – Reader. Monday, June 6, 2022 at 7 p.m. EST https://tutela.ca/Event_43301 |
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Co-written by Sepideh Alav: Sepideh is a Content Developer and Online Mentor at New Language Solutions, and a member of the Extensive Reading Foundation Board. She has been an ESL/EFL instructor and university lecturer since 1992 and has been actively involved with ESL extensive reading since 2010. She has taught in a variety of contexts ranging from private schools to colleges and universities in Iran and Canada. |
Resources
Avenue Webinar: Introduction to Extensive Reading Part 1, https://tinyurl.com/27kdetwk
Avenue Webinar: Introduction to Extensive Reading Part 2, https://tinyurl.com/2p82u327
Extensive Reading Foundation, http://erfoundation.org/wordpress
MReader, https://mreader.org
TESL Ontario Blog: Moving Forward with Extensive Reading in the LINC Context, https://tinyurl.com/232y8epp
TESL Ontario Blog: Encourage Extensive Reading with MReader, https://tinyurl.com/423unman
Tutela Webinar: Introduction to Extensive Reading for Language Instructors, https://tinyurl.com/mxt4rdhs
John Allan @mrpottz
Hi—I'm John Allan. I am an educator who works in the technology enhanced language learning field. I create online learning opportunities and mentor instructors on the Avenue project. I have experience teaching ESL and EFL in Canada and the Middle East. I hold an MSC in Computer Assisted Language learning, a M.Ed. in Distance Education, TESL B. Ed., a B.Ed. (OCT), and a variety of TESL relevant certifications from TESL Canada, TESL Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Education. For more articles, learning objects, projects and blog links see https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnharoldallan
Hey, Nice stimulating and useful read John. Thanks. Sepideh’s last name is missing the final ‘i’ near the end of the post.