Interactivity: Benefits of Highlighting Text
Highlighting is a great strategy
for reading and retaining information from a text. Whether a student highlights specific text on
his own or uses a highlighting tool on the computer, highlighting proves
effective for reading comprehension and retaining information. In a study on highlighting from digital
interfaces and eye-tracking, authors Ed Chi, Michelle Gumbrecht, and Lichan
Hong of the chapter Visual Foraging of Highlighted Text: An Eye-Tracking Study
found that “Readers’ attention is directed to highlighted areas, regardless of
their appropriateness to the task.” (Chi, Gumbrecht, & Hong, 2007)
Highlighting can be used by
students digitally, with a highlighter or marker, or clear tape. Students can also use different colors to categorize
information so that it is easy to remember.
In my 2nd grade classroom, I typically use several different
highlighting techniques so that my students can retain information better. One technique that I like to use is to
present the lesson’s information on a word document and followed by projecting
it on the screen; I then use different highlight colors on Microsoft Word to show
students specific parts of the text.
This technique allows for interactivity because students can then take turns
highlighting details on the screen by using a mouse controlled from their
desk. Another technique for highlighting
I use is not computer-interface interactive but it is a great strategy for
younger readers to find and locate information.
This technique involves using colored lens filters to locate information
in the text. I like this because it not
only gives students visuals but also a “hands-on” feel.
Chi, E., Gumbrecht, M., & Hong, L. (2007). Visual
Foraging of Highlighted Text: An Eye-Tracking Study. In J. Jacko, Human-Computer
Interaction. HCI Intelligent Multimodal Interaction Environments (pp.
589-598). Beijing .
