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ABSTRACT
This paper focuses on the significance for reading practices of differences and similarities in types of images and image-text relations in conventional book and computer-based texts as well as the types of hyperlinks in electronic texts. Explanations of 'the greenhouse effect', 'the water cycle' and 'sound waves' suitable for older elementary and junior high school students were collected from trade books, high school textbooks, CD ROMs and websites. The number and types of images and image-text relations were analyzed for two texts on each topic from each of the four text formats - a total of twenty four texts. Trade books and websites included more images than CD ROMS, and some websites and CD ROMs compositionally foregrounded images as the point of departure for the explanations. There was a marked difference in the use of language within images across the book and electronic versions, while image-'main text' relations seemed to be more influenced by topic. Problematic aspects of the visual modeling of scientific concepts were addressed through the analyses, as were practical pedagogical issues such as the complementarity of dynamic and synoptic representations in images in computer-based texts. Variation in the nature and role of hyperlinks in CD ROM and website contexts are reported and implications for understanding strategic practice in reading to learn from electronic texts are discussed.
INTRODUCTION
Many school age students (and older adults) enjoy popular science programs on the national public television and radio broadcasting service in Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC). One of the most popular personalities is Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki. 'Dr Karl' has degrees in Physics and Mathematics, Biomedical Engineering, and Medicine and Surgery, and, as well as a popular science writer and television and radio presenter, he is the Julius Sumner Miller Fellow in the Physics Department at the University of Sydney. His books include titles like Ears, Gears and Gadgets (Kruszelnicki, 1997a) and Forests, Fleeces and Prickly Pears (Kruszelnicki, 1997b), but equally popular with many students is his zany ABC science website (http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/efault.htm). Websites like this (as well as some more sedate school science websites) and CD ROMS like Encarta (Microsoft, 1994), and The Way Things Work (Macaulay, 1994), are popular 'out of school' sources of enjoyment for many students, and are increasingly being...