Digital graphic organizers as a tool to foster reading comprehension

Abstract

Foreign language learners have difficulties understanding texts because they try to code and decode in their mother tongue; then, the necessity of looking for a strategy to help them is crucial. The objective of this research is to show how digital graphic organizers (DGOs) help students develop reading comprehension, especially in understanding the evolution of the English language. The review of different theories about DGOs guided to identify a proto-typed model of analysis and design digital activities to represent students' understanding of a text. Methodologically, an experimental design consisting of pre and post-treatment tests were applied in the control and experimental group, during fall 2019 in the English Language Teaching Bachelor at BUAP, on a sample of 60 subjects. A treatment phase (didactic intervention) to prove the suitability of the proposal took place by using DGOs as a tool to promote reading comprehension of texts and knowledge representation. The most outstanding results were a deeper understanding of facts, historical events, the ability to synthesize information with DGOs, and the motivation to read about historical events. In conclusion, this way of developing understanding and representation of the knowledge was perceived positively by the subjects.