Page 22 - ELG2404 April Issue 489

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SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

Read the evidence:

books are best!

Should we be using digital or paper-based learning for reading

comprehension?

as reading on paper had its day? In the last two months, two major studies In an interview with the Guardian
After all, we’ve switched from seem to show, when it comes to reading newspaper, co-author Professor Ladislao
chalk to interactive whiteboards comprehension, books are still best. Salmerón said: ‘The association between
Hboards and we can set and mark Last December, a research team from the frequency of digital reading for pleasure and
our students homework online. Isn’t it University of Valencia published a metanalysis text comprehension abilities is close to zero.’
about time we introduced the paperless of 22 papers with a combined sample size of near The outcomes are especially grim for
classroom? half a million participants. The research showed younger learners; reading pixels on a screen
The short answer is: probably not. At least, that reading digital texts for pleasure improved digitally has a negative impact on the
if we want our students to actually understand reading comprehension skills six or seven times reading comprehensions skills of primary-age
what they are reading. more than reading something on a screen. children. Secondary and university students
22 April 2024