According to statistics from last year, ‘some 54% of U.S. children aged two-to-thirteen are reading e-books’, although further analysis shows that ‘70% of these children read both a combination of both enhanced and regular e-books’ (Greenfield, 2013). With such a growth in numbers, will the use of digital technology increase within education positively?
E-book publishers have found, with app developers, that e-books including interactivity can have an ‘educational advantage’ (Quenqua, 2014). Although a noticeable advance towards digital books in schools, many argue that the simple qualities of a print book are lost. Additionally that through reading on a screen interaction is ‘lost somewhat when you’re using an e-book’, the electronic device ‘undercuts the dynamic that drives language development’ (Quenqua, 2014). Although studies argue this theory and can only find e-book interactivity positively benefitting students, I too feel that without a tangible, printed book both reading and comprehension are done a disservice.
Through a recent study it was found that children were most commonly distracted ‘by random visuals rather than being engaged in the story’, when reading an e-book (Youth Market Alert, 2014). This resulted in a poor grasp of the stories content and proved that children were not interacting with the ‘interactive’ story. They also began to ‘recall fewer narrative details’, this figure in opposition to children who read in print (Youth Market Alert, 2014).
In referencing the future of print publishing, Managing Director of Hot Key Books, Sarah Odedina stated that ‘it is entirely possible that people will be more used to reading from a screen than a page’ (Hall, 2012). This worrying belief for the future of printed books should concern publishers as children are reaching for handheld devices over books. With the continued rise of technology in schools, will e-books actually replace paper books in education?
Bibliography:
Greenfield, Jeremy (16/01/13) ‘More Than Half U.S. Kids Reading Ebooks, New Report Shows’ http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2013/more-than-half-u-s-kids-reading-ebooks-new-report-shows/ (Accessed: 1/11/14)
Hall, James (18 September, 2012) ‘E-books could become the norm for children as sales soar’ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9551136/E-books-could-become-the-norm-for-children-as-sales-soar.html (Accessed: 1/11/14)
Quenqua, Douglas (11/10/14) ‘Is E-Reading To Your Toggler Story Time, or Simply Screen Time?’ http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/12/us/is-e-reading-to-your-toddler-story-time-or-simply-screen-time.html (Accessed: 1/11/14)
Youth Market Alert, ‘Key differences when parents and kids read bring and eBooks’ https://global.factiva.com/ha/default.aspx#./!?&_suid=1414703933987048870385461486876 (Accessed: 1/11/14)