Explicit Strategy Instruction Research Articles

The Impacts of Explicit Strategy Instruction on Reading Performance from Students Perspective: A Case Study

This paper reported on part of a larger study to explore how Vietnamese non-English major students perceived the impacts of explicit strategy instruction (ESI) on reading comprehension. Instruction on reading strategies was conducted for 6 weeks in which students were taught explicitly previewing and predicting, skimming, scanning, guessing the meaning of the unknown words from the context and summarizing strategies. Data were collected from forty-five non-English major students at a university in Vietnam through group interviews and learning reflections. Three semi-structured interviews were conducted in groups of three to four students, and thirty-nine learning reflections were collected to obtain in-depth information about the impact of the ESI. The findings revealed that, after the instruction, the students reported using various reading strategies in four strategy categories, namely problem-solving, global, support and local strategies. In addition, the ESI was perceived to be cognitively beneficial, as students reported heightened awareness of using reading strategies in reading comprehension, expanded reading strategy repertoire, greater reading fluency, and higher reading scores. From a non-cognitive affective perspective, students reported that the ESI motivated them to read with a higher level of confidence and become more autonomous in reading in English. The study offers implications for teachers, students and materials writers in teaching and learning English reading skills in non-English major learning contexts and perhaps in other settings.

Promoting explicit instruction of strategies for self-regulated learning: evaluating a teacher professional development program in primary education

Self-regulated learning (SRL) is crucial to students’ learning. SRL is characterized by students taking initiative, showing perseverance and adaptively regulating their learning. Teachers play an essential role in promoting and fostering this process. However, several studies have shown that in primary education explicit instruction of SRL strategies barely takes place. Given the relevance of SRL for learning and preparing students for the knowledge society of the 21st century, it is of crucial importance that teachers in primary education learn how they can improve their students’ SRL. In the present study, we implemented a professional development program (iSELF) in which primary teachers were trained and coached in promoting and fostering their students’ SRL. The extent to which iSELF contributed to teachers’ explicit instruction of SRL strategies was evaluated in a quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test design using video-based classroom observations. Thirty teachers from fourteen different primary schools participated in this study and were assigned to either a control (twelve teachers) or an experimental group (eighteen teachers). Results indicate that in both conditions explicit SRL strategy instruction is rare. However, explicit instruction of SRL strategies is significantly higher in the experimental group on the post-test compared to the control group showing that teachers do benefit from learning about explicit SRL instruction.

Self-regulated strategy instruction: Insights from ESP teachers at a Chinese university and vocational college

Self-regulated learning (SRL) is pivotal in second language (L2) learning but is often inadequately addressed in classroom instruction. This qualitative study examines the SRL-promoting strategies employed by English for Specific Purposes (ESP) teachers at a university and a vocational college in China, both of which offer English-medium instruction (EMI) programmes. Grounded in Zimmerman's SRL model, this study employs multiple data sources, including interviews, classroom observations, and teaching materials. Findings reveal that teachers from both settings use a blend of explicit and implicit strategy instruction to foster both cognitive and metacognitive facets of SRL. University teachers integrate strong self-assessment methods, such as peer and teacher feedback, in their teaching. However, gaps in the teachers' conceptual understanding of SRL lead to inconsistent emphasis on various components and phases of SRL. Furthermore, our study identifies several factors, such as student characteristics, teacher knowledge and beliefs, and institutional constraints, that influence these instructional practices. The research stands out for its focus on ESP instruction within a Chinese educational context by juxtaposing two different educational settings. It underscores the need for specialized SRL-focused professional development, especially for vocational teachers, and underscores the importance of bolstering SRL in ESP to facilitate a seamless EMI transition.

The Effect of Awareness-Raising and Explicit Instruction of Compensatory Strategies on Young Leaners' EFL Oral and Written Production

This article presents a study intended to analyze the effects of awareness-raising and explicit strategy instruction on the performance of young learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) in a multilingual context. In particular, we focused on the teaching of compensatory strategies (CpSs), a subset of communication strategies (CSs), and examined the immediate and delayed effects of explicit instruction of conceptual CpSs on young learners’ oral and written object description in English. Students’ description appropriateness and CpS use were assessed at three different times during the study. Three intact classes of eleven-year-old learners in a Spanish primary school participated in the study: Two classes formed the experimental group (n = 43) and the third class served as the control group (n = 20). Object description was part of the learners’ EFL syllabus, but only the experimental group received explicit instruction in identifying and using CpSs. Results revealed a positive effect of awareness-raising and explicit instruction of CpSs on overall description appropriateness in oral production immediately after intervention. Moreover, with regard to specific strategies, the use of superordinate appears to be the CpS that benefits the most from instruction.

Exploration of Moroccan EFL University Students’ Retrospective Knowledge of Cognitive and Metacognitive Reading Strategies in Processing Advanced-level Written Discourse in English

Based on my unpublished Doctoral Dissertation (Defended in 2015) that investigates the impact of explicit reading strategy instruction on Moroccan EFL university learners’ (meta) cognitive reading strategy use and reading achievement, the present exploratory study reflects the extent to which the learners are retrospectively conscious of the (meta) cognitive reading strategies (RSs) that facilitate the assimilation and comprehension of the textual input. It addresses 113 English department university students belonging to two groups (Group 1: N= 50; Group 2: N= 63) studying at the first-semester level. The data were obtained through the dependence on two advanced-level reading comprehension texts (i.e., narrative, expository) which were accompanied by a retrospective questionnaire (RQ). The results evince that, given that the targeted two groups unconsciously used some (meta) cognitive reading strategies (RSs) for attaining the textual comprehension, their retrospective consciousness of the core nature and essence of these metacognitively-oriented strategic moves is typically typified by utmost inadequacy. Finally, some useful recommendations relative to both EFL reading research and pedagogy as well as some unavoidable limitations are presented.

The Effect of Explicit Strategy Instruction on Students’ Reading Comprehension Performance of Ethiopian Secondary School Students

Despite the importance of strategy instruction in improving learners’ reading ability, several issues remain unresolved in literature. This study investigated the effect of explicit reading strategy instruction on improving grade 11 English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ reading comprehension performance. Additionally, it attempted to see whether male or female students performed better in reading comprehension after the intervention. The quasi-experimental pre- and post-test research design was employed. Eighty-two grade 11 students from two intact classes of Kokebe Tsibah General Secondary School were randomly assigned as an experimental (EG) and control (CG) groups. While 40 students were assigned to the control, 42 (19 male and 23 female) students were assigned to the EG. The EG received explicit reading strategy instruction embedded into their English reading activities using the Cognitive Academic Language Learning Approach. While classroom observation was carried out for follow-up purposes, the reading comprehension test was used as a main data-gathering tool. The data were analyzed using percentages, means, and t-tests. The independent sample t-test results showed a significant difference in reading comprehension test scores between the CG and EG after the intervention. On the other hand, the independent sample t-test analysis indicated that there were no significant differences between male and female students in their post-test results. Finally, it was concluded that students’ reading comprehension can be improved if they are explicitly taught various reading strategies (RSs). Therefore, it is recommended that EFL teachers in Ethiopian secondary schools could consider incorporating explicit instruction of different RSs during teaching reading.

Integrating Media Literacy Across the Content Areas

AbstractTeachers must first acquire the necessary media literacy skills, strategies, dispositions, and pedagogy to impactfully integrate media literacy into their instruction. Furthermore, previous studies have suggested designing curricular resources as an effective form of media literacy professional learning. This case study examined how high school teachers of different content areas integrate media literacy into their instruction while participating in an online professional development course and how high school teachers applied the content from a media literacy online professional development course to design media literacy instruction. Findings indicated teachers made minor changes to their previous instructional practice, which indicated that participating in the online course led them to think about media literacy integration in new ways. Additionally, teachers applied the online professional development content by using media to build background knowledge, offering explicit media literacy strategy instruction and support, promoting independent practice at the intersection of content curricula and media literacy, and assigning media production to demonstrate content knowledge. Recommendations include equipping teachers with media literacy background knowledge, examining instruction stemming from media literacy professional development, and empowering teachers to design media literacy instruction through critical lenses.

An Impact of Explicit Teaching of Reading Strategies on the Reading Motivation of Pakistani ESL Learners

Researchers advise teachers to help students develop a passion for reading to enhance their reading abilities. This action research aims to ascertain the effect of explicit teaching of reading strategies on Pakistani undergraduate ESL learners. The students received explicit reading strategy instruction over a four-month period in two cycles. The data was gathered with the help of a questionnaire i.e. Motivation for Reading Questionnaire (MRQ) before and after the intervention stage. The findings show that teaching reading strategies explicitly ensures a positive impact on students’ motivation to read. As a result, it is discovered that students can get motivated to read if they are familiar with reading strategies, but what is the primary step to create initially is an interactive and interesting environment in the classroom. This study is important for language educators and teacher educators who want to motivate students. It additionally reinforces the usefulness of various existing reading strategies for motivating learners at a Pakistani private institution.

Motivational Practices in Reading Interventions for Students With or at Risk for Dyslexia

The purposes of this study were to (a) describe the extent to which motivational practices are incorporated in foundational reading interventions for students with or at risk for dyslexia in kindergarten through Grade 5 (K–5) and (b) explore whether the presence and type of motivational practices (i.e., supports vs. strategies) within foundational reading interventions influenced the magnitude of the intervention effects on reading outcomes. We analyzed the same set of studies as Hall et al. (2022), who meta-analyzed experimental and quasi-experimental research of reading interventions implemented with K–5 students with or at risk for dyslexia from 1980 to 2020. Results of the current study show that only 44% of the interventions included motivational practices. The majority (84%) of those interventions addressed student motivation and engagement through motivational supports, such as game-like activities, paired work, and setting improvement goals. A much smaller percentage (16%) provided explicit motivational strategy instruction. Results indicated that reading interventions that include direct motivational strategy instruction tend to have larger effects on reading outcomes than both interventions without any motivational practices and those that include motivational supports only. The positive effect of motivational strategy instruction was stronger on measures of word reading than overall reading or reading comprehension outcomes. These findings highlight the need to address motivational challenges of students with reading difficulties and lend insight into how foundational reading skills interventions can be bolstered through incorporating motivational strategy instruction.

Investigation of cognitive and metacognitive strategies used by preservice science teachers exposed to explicit and peer tutoring reading strategies instruction

The study aimed to investigate cognitive and metacognitive strategies and products of cognitive and metacognitive processes that preservice science teachers engaged in while reading heat-temperature text after being exposed to no reading strategy instruction, explicit reading strategy instruction, and peer tutoring reading strategy instruction. This study differs from other strategy teaching studies in terms of determining the cognitive and metacognitive reading strategies used by individuals after being exposed to different types of reading strategy instruction, which which was specifically designed to improve conceptual understanding. This study employed holistic multiple-case study wherein preservice teachers were assigned to one of the three groups that received no reading strategy instruction (n = 9), explicit reading strategy instruction (n = 10), and peer tutoring (n = 10) based on their scores on Metacognitive Awareness of Reading Strategies Inventory and good communication among them. The content of strategy instruction included various domain-specific reading comprehension strategies used for activating cognitive and metacognitive processes that contribute to improving conceptual understanding and conceptual change. It was found that the diversity and frequency of using cognitive strategies and products of cognitive processes were the highest in the explicit strategy instruction group, and the metacognitive strategies and products of metacognitive processes were more diverse and frequent in reading strategy instruction groups compared to no strategy instruction group.

Effects of Explicit Reading Strategy Instruction on High and Low English Proficiency Learners

Objectives This study aims to investigate how explicit reading strategy instruction affects the type and frequency of strategy use in Korean EFL university learners.
 Methods A structured 16-week reading strategy instruction was carried out in a general English class, and for the investigation two high and two low proficiency readers were recruited. They were interviewed at the beginning and after the course. They also participated in pre and post questionnaires on reading strategy as well as pre and post tests in reading comprehension.
 Results The results of the study reveal the low proficiency learners showed a greater increase in the frequency of strategy use than the high proficiency learners. The latter continued using the global strategy after the strategy training while the former tended to include the global and the support strategy in their strategy repertoire. All the learners expressed a positive attitude toward the reading strategy training.
 Conclusions The findings suggest that for the effective implementation of an explicit strategy instruction in a reading classroom in EFL university setting, teachers need to consider individual learners’ reading proficiency.

Learning to Learn: A pilot study on explicit strategy instruction to incoming college students

The current pilot study implemented a “Learning to Learn” (L2L) course designed to teach first-year college students about the science of how learning works, how to take ownership of their own learning, and how to effectively apply learning strategies to achieve their academic goals. A cognitive apprenticeship model was used in which students planned, executed, and evaluated strategy use in vivo during the course. Two sections of the course were taught at each of two different institutions, distributed across four semesters. Quantitative data showed an increased growth mindset among L2L students at the end of the semester compared to the beginning of the semester. In contrast, first-year students surveyed from control groups in the same semester had a decreased growth mindset. Furthermore, compared to students in the control groups, students in the L2L courses maintained more stable levels of effort across the semester and felt more in control of their learning by the end of the semester. Qualitative data collected from focus groups indicated that the L2L students continued to use the strategies they had learned in the course in the subsequent semester, and that the changes in their perceptions about growth mindset continued beyond the duration of the course. Several L2L students noted a desire for the learning strategies to be taught earlier in their education. Next steps involve feasibility studies on appropriate scaling to support more undergraduates each year, and to support students during the critical transition from K-12 schooling to the college environment.

Effects of Explicit Reading Strategy Instruction on Grade 9 Students’ Achievement in Reading Comprehension

The main objective of the study is to investigate the effects of explicit reading strategy instruction on students’ achievement in reading comprehension. In two intact classes, the treatment group received reading lessons accompanied by the three basic reading instructions, i.e., the pre-, the while, and the post-reading instructions through explicit reading strategy instruction, but the nontreatment group received reading lessons in the usual way of learning/teaching reading. The study employed an embedded design since data were collected using quantitative data-gathering instruments through reading comprehension tests before and after the intervention, and an interview was also employed to gather data about the treatment from the randomly selected participants from the treatment group. Statistical results were analyzed with an independent sample t-test and paired sample t-test from nontreatment (33) and treatment (35). The findings emphasized the importance of employing explicit reading strategy instruction in enabling readers to comprehend reading comprehension questions, especially it lets students properly handle reading comprehension questions that seek higher level thinking. On the top priority, to be good readers at comprehending reading comprehension questions that seek higher level thinking, classroom reading teachers are required to create opportunities for the readers while delivering reading lessons by presenting activities that go with the pre-, while, and post-reading instructions. Being one of the most important instructions in reading lesson presentations, secondary school language teachers are expected to present reading lessons through explicit reading strategy instruction.

Two Edges of Sword of Strategy-Based Instruction (SBI) and Implicit Task-Based Instruction (TBI) on EFL Oral Performance

This pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of two classroom instructions on the complexity, accuracy, and fluency of EFL learners’ speaking. The first one involved implicit task-based instruction with meaning-focused pedagogic tasks. The second instruction reduced learners’ practice time but complemented it with explicit strategy-based instruction (SBI) to raise their metacognitive awareness in planning, monitoring, and evaluating their speech. Participants in the explicit instruction group learned to practice three specific strategies, while the first group had only more practice opportunities. The study involved 16 English students from a third-tier university in Indonesia. Audio recordings of each participant’s oral presentations during the pre-test and the post-test were transcribed and coded for non-parametric analysis. The findings revealed that both instructions had a comparable impact on EFL learners' oral performance by improving complexity but not accuracy and fluency. There was also a possible trade-off effect found in participants’ performance. The study findings could provide a basis for EFL teachers to use either explicit strategy instruction or implicit instruction for their speaking class.

Think-Aloud: Effect on Adolescent Deaf Students' Use of Reading Comprehension Strategies.

This study examined the effect of explicit instruction of reading comprehension strategies, such as identification of unknown vocabulary and relating text to background knowledge, on four deaf and hard of hearing students' use of strategies and reading comprehension performance pre- and post-intervention. Explicit instruction of strategies consisted of discussion of targeted strategies and think-aloud (verbalizing one's thought processes while reading) to model strategies. The data presented is from a more in-depth study completed during the 2017-2018 academic year. Few studies have implemented think-aloud in evaluating deaf adolescents' reading challenges and the efficacy of strategy use. This study provided insight into both of these issues. Results show an increase in the variety of strategies used by students and frequency of strategy use post-intervention. Results also indicate improved comprehension scores for two students. Close examination of the data, however, reveals ongoing metacognitive challenges (such as lack of consistent identification of key unknown words and lack of awareness of comprehension breakdowns) and inconsistency in the efficacious use of strategies. Findings indicate a need for ongoing assessment of the depth and efficacy of strategy use and individualized instruction.

(Re)centering Antiracist Reading in Reading Scholarship: Reading Strategy Applications for Antiracist Reading Praxis

ABSTRACT In this article, we offer a loving critique that (re)centers Inoue’s antiracist reading framework in reading scholarship. In particular, we question the orientation and effectiveness of racial literacy applications that fail to incorporate explicit reading strategy instruction. Developmental literacy classes can be an important space for antiracism when instruction supports our students’ current literacy strengths and growth edges. We explore the potential for applying antiracist literacy practice centered within reading scholarship. Through personal classroom examples, we describe our efforts to implement reading strategy instruction that amplifies the effectiveness of antiracist reading in IRW.

Reproduction Rather than Comprehension? Analysis of Gains in Students’ Science Text Comprehension

The use of texts is an indispensable resource for students’ learning, especially in science domains. While developing understanding of a specific topic usually is the main goal of reading expository texts, an important consideration is how to best measure whether this understanding has been reached. In this study, we aimed to analyze gains in students’ reading comprehension based on reading three expository texts on chemistry and physics topics. By means of a pre–post design, we assessed the reading comprehension of 261 eighth grade students with regard to three levels of reading comprehension. Latent change scores were estimated to analyze changes in students’ total test scores, while also calculating difference scores based on the single items. Results indicate that students’ topic-related comprehension increases from pre- to posttest, while gains seem to be limited to word and sentence level questions. In line with other studies, these findings stress that students would benefit from explicit strategy instruction, at least when learning from reading is the goal of using science texts in classrooms.

Teachers’ Viewpoint of Metacognitive Strategy Instruction in Listening during Remote Teaching in Oman: Challenges and Strategies

Research in second language learning has identified the absence of metacognition among learners as one of the major problems contributing to students’ inability to comprehend listening texts. Moreover, the shift to remote teaching due to COVID-19 has made it more crucial for teachers and learners to adapt to new modes of teaching and learning. This accentuates the need for effective listening strategy instruction. This study conducted at a university in Oman, is unique in two ways: first, it seeks out teachers’ perceptions of metacognitive strategy instruction in remote teaching; and second, the intervention in the form of explicit metacognitive strategy instruction is offered online. This paper presents the findings of the study, which focused on the following: teachers’ perception of students’ listening difficulties; teachers’ perceptions of metacognitive strategies and their explicit instruction; the role of metacognitive strategy awareness and instruction in improving student participation and skills in listening; challenges encountered in teaching listening during remote teaching; and overcoming challenges of teaching metacognitive strategies in remote teaching. This mixed-method study collected data through questionnaires and interviews with 10 faculty members and 75 students. The findings show that teachers face several challenges, such as time limitations, shortened semesters, unfamiliar coursebook contexts, and assessment practices. For strategy instruction, teachers utilized collaborative lesson planning and resources and virtual flipped classrooms, among others. We conclude that metacognitive strategy instruction can provide better scaffolding during listening instruction and recommends further exploration of students’ use of metacognitive strategies in other academic contexts.

MetaCogs: Mitigating Executive Dysfunction via Agent-based Modeling for Metacognitive Strategy Development

Executive functions (EF) are a collection of cognitive domains governing task initiation, motor planning, attention, and goal-oriented action. Difficulties with EF have marked impacts on adaptive living skills, learning outcomes, and quality of life for people with cognitive and psychosocial disabilities, as well as the broader population. While there is considerable research interest in EF training intervention for disabled populations, very few studies explore metacognitive intervention for people with cognitive disabilities. Metacognition comprises conscious beliefs and strategies around task management and goal setting. Metacognitive awareness has been shown to mediate the effects of executive function on self-regulated learning. Metacognitive interventions have also shown promise in general education, military training, and medical practice. We present a virtual reality experience deploying agent-based modeling to support explicit metacognitive strategy instruction for undergraduate students of all neurotypes. Our results support that explicit instructional material explaining executive function and metacognition in relation to problem-solving experiences influenced participant self-concept and awareness of personal traits and cognitive processes.

A “Wake-Up Call” for EFL Students: Exploring the Metacognitive Learning Strategy in the Professional Listening Course

Compared to the cognitive strategies to solve students’ problems in English listening, studies on metacognitive strategies seem to be underexplored in Eastern Indonesian context. In order to contribute to this research gap, this study conducted an investigation on university students' awareness of metacognitive strategies. This mixed-method study used quantitative data from a questionnaire adopted from the Metacognitive Awareness Listening Questionnaire (MALQ). 178 English Education students (19-21 years old) at Pattimura University completed the questionnaire, and eight students were randomly selected to be interviewed to obtain qualitative data regarding their individual metacognitive strategies for planning, monitoring and evaluating their listening activities. The findings reveal more than 60% of the participants agree that they have a plan for their listening activities, can maintain focus during the activities, and evaluate how they performed. Qualitative data supported that the students do have a plan and monitor their learning process, as they can provide specific strategies of how they plan (e.g., taking notes, making sure that the room is suitable for listening tasks) and monitor (e.g., paying attention to keywords, using context to decipher audio’s meaning if they encounter unfamiliar words) their learning process. However, the students seem to be unable to explain or define precisely what metacognitive strategy is, indicating their lack of learning the self-reflection process. These results demonstrated a need for more explicit instruction of metacognitive strategies to improve the students’ learning process, which will be especially beneficial for the university's uniquely high-stakes course of Professional Listening.