How are schema theory and situational (mental) model theory used in the teaching of comprehension?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Schema theory says that our knowledge is packaged into units (schemata), so a schema is the organized knowledge, broad or narrow, that a person has about certain people, places, things, or events. It is used in teaching comprehension as we rely on these units of knowledge to build a connection between what we know (a schema) and what we do not know (an unfamiliar text). It is a way of bringing meaning to the text, or constructing meaning from it, and then retaining that new information.

The mental model, integrates the textbase with the reader's background knowledge and goal for reading. Instruction should include building an accurate textbase and building on that textbase by integrating it with the reader's background and goal for reading. Based on a situation model, the teacher could take at least three steps to improve comprehension: build background, give students materialon the appropriate level, and teach strategies, such as generating questions as they read,that will help them make connections. Instruction should also include developing students' willingness and ability to move beyond the textbase and build a mental model.