A method description for developing critical reading skills through a digital platform based on Barrett's taxonomy.

Abstract

The article outlines a method for developing, assessing critical reading skills using a digital learning platform based on Barrett's taxonomy of Reading Comprehension. A taxonomy-based task design is integrated with an automated assessment. The level of questions is categorized into two types: lower-level questions, comprising literal and reorganization levels, and higher-level questions, including inferential, evaluative, and appreciative types. Lower-level comprehension is automatically evaluated with objective questions on the platform. Whereas, higher-level comprehension is assessed through a specifically designed assessment rubric, integrated into the platform. Educators can use the platform architecture for these functions: design and share reading tasks, gather student responses, and define the students' performance through integrated learning analytics. A pilot demonstration with a sample dataset shows the disparities in the students' levels of understanding. Students face challenges in performing high level tasks. The proposed framework illustrates how teaching critical reading can be conducted with the integration of digital platform, Which allows for reproducible implementation A Barrett's taxonomy grounded methodological framework for developing multilevel reading comprehension tasks A digital assessment platform, integrated with automated evaluation of objective questions and rubric-based assessment of open-ended questions An evaluation system supported analytically, informing teachers about students' performance across comprehension levels.