Using Hypermedia To Support Understanding of Expository Text: Examples from the Workplace and Classroom

Comprehension of expository text can be assisted using hypermedia support--text plus images and speech. This kind of presentation environment, called Responsive Text, compensates for deficiencies in basic reading skills by using speech support to aid decoding, hypertext and images to provide background and vocabulary support, and interactive questions to encourage comprehension monitoring. This paper presents a brief overview of ways in which Responsive Text has been used with adults in workplace training materials and with middle school students in social studies and science texts. Reproductions of computer screens illustrate the discussion. (Contains 11 references.) (Author/BEW)