Blog 5: True Understanding and Comprehension
In the chapter by Beers, the author focused on what true understanding is. She emphasizes that understanding is a process; students do not just "learn enough" to suddenly understand. Instead, they need to interact with the concept, the ideas underlying the concept, the implications of the concept, and the context surrounding it before they can truly understand the concept. Students also need to discuss the concept and the ideas of their peers about the concept. The chapter by Hinchman discussed strategies to help students with comprehension. The author discussed the importance of vocabulary and using background knowledge from other subject areas to understand a text. Close reading and its components were also discussed, along with strategies for students to self-assess their comprehension. I thought that the two chapters together were a good combination of more idealistic, overarching theory and pragmatic, specific strategies. I think that both a...