"...it’s important to incorporate digital reading (or e-reading) practices...even as we do so with a critical eye. It may well be irresponsible to do otherwise. Even if some of us continue to require our students to read mostly in print ... the pressures of the digital on the practice of reading will continue to bear, and likely increase, in ways that everyone will have to deal with. As Hayles notes, students are immersed in the digital already... we need to help them to read in these environments." ~What We "Know" About Reading Digitally by Michael Larkin and Donnett Flash
Anytime.
Titles can be ordered quickly and students can access 24/7/365.
Portable.
Transfer between devices allows for student to access reading on their phones.
Discoverable
Online keyword searches and bookmarking provide focused access to information. Built in dictionary tools allow students to clarify new vocabulary as needed.
Adaptable.
Narration, text-to-speech, build in dictionaries, and adjustable font-sizes meet individual student needs.
Ecological / Economical.
Reduces paper waste, as books never wear out and never get lost.
Fatigue
Reading on a back lit screen can lead to eyestrain. Reading on a computer rather than a dedicated reading device can lead to other physical strain.
Non-Tactile
Lack of tactile cues (book size, where you are on a page or in the book) can impact reader's comprehension of chronology. Readers cannot easily flip back and forth between passages.
Distractions
Other functions of a device (non-dedicated e-readers, computers, phones) increases distractions from reading.
eBooks in the Classroom
Teaching Students to Really Read Online
What if I primarily use print texts in my classroom?
The most recent research suggests that print reading is a better deep reading experience for most people. Still, our students will encounter the expectation that they read online texts more and more as society seeks ways to economize. Many publications, including trade manuals, are offered exclusively online. And many colleges require digital textbooks and other readings. Below are some ways you can help students practice online reading alongside their print reading.
Keep in mind that many researchers now hypothesize that mindset is an import factor in effective digital reading. We need to check how we might inadvertently transfer our own mindset about print vs. online reading to our students. Students who approach the task with apprehension will struggle to effectively engage in deep reading online. You can help.
Project
Pair
Supplement
What if I primarily use web based digital readings?
Reading web pages and reading longer texts that have been previously published in print are different skills. Resources designed for the web are generally assist readers with the tasks of navigation and skimming. Resources designed for print but only available to a student online may present challenges to students that make them likely to avoid those "long articles."
Most recently, researchers hypothesize that mindset is an import factor in effective digital reading. Students who approach the task with apprehension will struggle to effectively engage in deep reading online. You can help.
Talk to your students about what we know about reading.
Help your students minimize digital distractions.
Model digital reading skills for your students.
Library Information and Media Center - Monona Grove High School - Monona, Wisconsin