Researchers Voice Concern Over E-Books’ Effect On Reading Comprehension

U.S. schools are being inundated with digital devices and online reading materials, but there are concerns about whether they are actually helping children improve their reading abilities. This was the main message conveyed by a husband-and-wife research team from West Chester University, who presented their findings at the annual conference of the American Educational Research Association. Their first study revealed that a small group of students comprehended traditional books at a much higher level than when they read the same material on an iPad. The researchers also found that students using interactive e-books created with Apple’s iBooks Author software tended to skip over important text. These findings are part of a growing body of research on how students interact with and learn from digital tablets and computers in the classroom. While the early data raise concerns, they do not definitively imply that iPad- or tablet-based literacy instruction is ineffective. The researchers emphasized that teachers need more strategies for teaching children to use their existing reading skills in a digital environment. In one study, the researchers worked with 13 struggling middle-grades students and found that comprehension levels dipped noticeably for those reading on iPads. Distracting interactions on the devices seemed to be a major contributing factor. The researchers suggested that publishers should focus on creating digital materials that are less game-like and more functional, with fewer gimmicks. On a positive note, the researchers found that students were more engaged with and motivated by digital materials compared to traditional print books. Another researcher on the panel discovered similar tensions between engagement and outcomes. A doctoral candidate from the University of Minnesota found that early-grades teachers primarily used technology to support traditional print-based literacy, rather than fostering the development of new literacy skills and strategies.