Digital Media Effects on Conventional Reading & Writing Practices.

According to the New York Times article, "Literacy Debate: Online, R U really reading?" Web Evangelists and Traditionalists appear to be at a divide on whether the internet is conducive to promoting reading and comprehension skills. Let's not dismiss the fact that diminishing literacy skills have been on the rise lately, but should we attribute poor reading scores to the growth of the internet?

Everything will always have its set of pros and cons--even the internet. While I realize that without it I would probably not be scanning through the NY Times as part of my morning ritual, I can see how the internet has made me a more distracted reader. Formerly, we didn't have the ability to switch to another topic or source if we didn't care for what we were reading. (There is much more effort involved in flipping through the pages of a book, or even finding an entirely different book on your bookshelf.)

So, I am aware of the detriments that the internet has caused when it comes to reading--I have experienced it myself.


          "Learning is acquired mainly from books, and most readily from great books."

As an avid book reader, I have have experienced the depth of learning that can take place in a book. This is something that the article refers to as having a set beginning, middle, and end. And without books, many of us would have a wildly different perception of culture and feelings. 

The act of reading a book many times places you in another person's shoes, thus creating a sense of empathy for the character(s) you're reading about. A book can transport you to the other side of the world, without even leaving your couch. 

However, as we have witnessed in the field of education, there are many children that do not have the luxury of reading a book from start to finish. As referenced in the NY Times article, there are many children diagnosed with Dyslexia and ADD--both of which make reading a lengthy book infinitely more difficult.

So, in reality, the web has opened up a whole new door for everybody--especially those that would otherwise not go near a book. Digital media supporters say that web reading may eventually surpass those who only rely on books.

“It takes a long time to read a 400-page book,” said Mr. Spiro of Michigan State. “In a tenth of the time,” he said, the Internet allows a reader to “cover a lot more of the topic from different points of view.”

I also see a variety of people reading articles via their smartphone that wouldn't even consider picking up a book. And this isn't due to the fact that they cannot manage a book, but they simply are not interested.

From an educator's perspective, I can see the need for digital media literacy courses within our schools. While the internet can be accessed by students at home, this does not exempt us from teaching them proper digital media skills. Critics suggest that even though they are reading, many students (adults even) cannot distinguish a legitimate source from a fictitious one.

All in all, the web has provided us with a multitude of information at our fingertips that will continue to thrive whether Traditionalists approve or not. Books will stand the test of time, whether it be in paperback or an e-book equivalent. Whatever side you are on, you cannot argue that reading books does not promote literacy and reading skills. A blended approach to learning will prove to serve students the best, as it will promote differentiated instruction. What we can do at this point, is ensure that students are taught the skills necessary to decode images, distinguish valid sources, and ultimately be considered "literate" in digital media.