NARAP Update
March 2005
Definition Panel Work
During March, the Reading Definition Panel worked to draft a definition for NARAP to take to focus groups this spring. After considerable discussion, project staff decided to bring three definitions to the focus groups.
Definition One is the result of the January meeting of the Reading Definition Panel. Definition Two represents the work of the small group of panel members formed to continue the work that was started in January. Definition Three is a combination of several definitions that were proposed during the online discussion among Definition Panel members in response to Definitions One and Two. The definitions are as follows:
Definition One:
Reading is decoding and understanding written text. Decoding requires translating the symbols of writing systems (including Braille) into the spoken words they represent. Understanding is determined by the purposes for reading, the context, the nature of the text, and the readers' strategies and knowledge.
Definition Two:
Reading is decoding and understanding text for particular reader purposes. Readers decode written text by translating text to speech, and translating directly to meaning. To understand written text, readers engage in constructive processes to make text meaningful, which is the end goal or product.
Definition Three:
Reading is the process of deriving meaning from text. For the majority of readers, this process involves decoding written text. Some individuals require adaptations such as Braille or auditorization to support the decoding process. Understanding text is determined by the purposes for reading, the context, the nature of the text, and the readers' strategies and knowledge.
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Focus Groups Start In Early April
The next step in the process of developing the definition of reading is to share draft versions of the definitions with various stakeholders in focus groups. The times and locations for the focus groups that have been scheduled so far are:
CEC - Baltimore, Maryland
Thursday, April 7 - Annapolis Room, Hyatt
Session 1: 1:15 to 2:15
Session 2: 3:45 to 4:45
Friday, April 8 - Annapolis/Baltimore Room, Hyatt
Session 1: 11:00 to 12:00
Session 2: 1:15 to 2:15
Saturday, April 9 - Baltimore Room, Hyatt
Session 1: 11:00 to 12:00
Session 2: 1:15 to 2:15
AERA - Montreal, Canada
Thursday, April 14 - Room #522, Delta Centre-Ville (777 rue University, on the AERA map hotel 5)
Session 1: 9:00 to 10:00
Session 2: 10:45 to 11:45
Session 3: 12:45 to 1:45
Session 4: 2:30 to 3:30
As a member of NARAP’s GAC, you are welcome to observe a focus group.
We know you understand that we want focus group participants to feel free to comment openly and honestly on the definition. With this in mind, we would appreciate it if you do not join in the discussion, even for clarification purposes.
We have limited space for focus group participants. If you would like to attend a session, please send an e-mail to tking@ets.org stating which session you would like to observe. Specific details about focus groups to be held during the International Reading Association (IRA) conference, the Society for the Scientific Study of Reading (SSSR) conference, and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) conference will be sent to you at a later date.
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Next Steps
We will provide interim summaries of the focus group results in future General Advisory Committee updates.
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