Computerondersteuning Bij Voorspellend Lezen

In Model Schools Project West-Netherlands the Free University of Amsterdam (Department of Cognitive Psychology) and the State University of Utrecht (Researchgroup on Mathematics Education and Educational Computer Centre) study the way the computer can be used as an aid in secondary education. In the model school (Cals College Nieuwegein) five departments (Dutch Language, Mathematics, Foreign Languages, Geography, Home Economics) are developing and trying series of experimental lessons in which the computer is used as an aid to students and teachers. Existing (educational) software is elaborated with worksheets and teacher guidelines, aimed at an optimal integration of the software into the curriculum. During the schoolyear 1987/1988 the English Language teacher, supported by researcher and subject matter experts, has given a series of lessons on "reading and prediction", viz. the use of function words in a text. In four lessons the students worked on (a) choosing an appropriate consecutive phrase given a main phrase with function word (supported by the program "Sequitur"), (b) identifying the meaning of function words in a text (without computer), (c) learning the meaning of the major function words (supported by a Dutch program "Word Meanings"), and (d) completing sentence with a function word (supported by the Dutch program "Doka"). The experimental lessons indicated the contributions to be expected of the programs used and also the shortcomings to be remedied in future releases.