E-reading

[Paulclem]

I've just been reading a booklet today on reading on the internet. It suggests ways in which to engage, in my case adult learners, or children with reading on the internet.

It made the point that reading a book is a passive experience in that the author feeds you the material, whereas reading on the internet gives much more interactivity, enables the reader to "author" their own reading journey, and allows the reader to drill down for detail, diversify to expnd the mind, and specialise for interest.

Given the rise of screen reading and e-reading for kids, what do you think of this?

(I made a similar comment on the e-reading v books thread).

[Virgil]

I think that's basically right, though perhaps a little exaggerated. I still used dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other references prior to the internet as an interactive resource. The difference now is that so much more is available and just a click away.

Here's something you might want to consider, on the negative side of the information age. I find the computer has weakened my attention span. First i find it impossible to read a long document on a screen. That may be that I'm from a previous generation. But the fact that everything is a click away means that I get click happy and start roaming and surfing. Sometimes it's better to accept you don't know one little aspect of what's written and move on while maintaining focus. I keep getting distracted while on a computer.

Hence, my signature from a T.S. Eliot quote, "distracted from distraction by distraction."

[Mathor]

yeah, though all of my internet resources make studying and learning and school in general a lot easier for me, ultimately the internet is the one and only main source of all my procrastination and time wasted. So I agree with Virgil.

[Paulclem]

The booklet I referred to also said that heavy internet users were more likely to read books for pleasure according to their research.

I know what you mean, but perhaps it's a case of conscously developing good internet reading habits.

[naser56]

you both are right .

internet reading is so easy ...........

[calebjross]

I've long believed that reading a printed book is like having a direct conversation with the author. As a reader, I can disagree, I can agree, I can formulate my own opinions, etc. With reading online, it seems the conversation is much broader, and the group much larger. So, it is a matter of what you want: an intimate conversation or more of a discussion.

This is taking things like stress on your eyes due to the screen out of the equation, of course.

I think I'll be partial to paper for a long time. I'll be one of the last to convert to online only reading, though I understand we are moving in that direction.

[Paulclem]

I must admit, the idea of authoring your own reading experience is new to me, but makes sense from what I see of young people on the internet. The research pointed this up too.

I think you are right about it being the more intimate reading experience with a book, but then there is the aspect of giving yourself over to the author. Of course we don't mind to a published author who has some credibility, but with internet auhoring and the questions against validity, etc, then a more interactive reading habit might just allow the author to be questioned, examined, compared etc.

[LitNetIsGreat]

I think you have to try to strike a balance, and of course it depends on what you are teaching to who you are teaching it to. Certainly IT can engage learners in different ways, but as has been pointed out, reading via a screen as opposed to a book, can offer different experiences, enhancing or detracting different skills.

The groups I work with 11-16) all tend to be eager to use IT and it is something that I am a little wary of mostly for the things that I am trying to get across. I am keen to develop skills which often work counter to that of the fast paced environment offered by IT. I am well aware of the benefits which IT offer, but at the same time, often what is required (for my purposes anyway) is slow and considered learning and reflection which I consider not to be helped by that of IT that much.

I don’t think that I agree that reading is a passive experience in itself though, but I suppose the article was referring to reading via IT, which from that point I suppose you could make a case for, but for me personally reading is the engagement of other minds and other times, and not at all passive in the strictest sense.

Given the rise of screen reading and e-reading for kids, what do you think of this?

Again with the individuals I work with, who are all clued up with the latest technologies, it might engage and make more appeal than a book would, but I am keen to develop patience and show what slow and considered reading can yield to those willing to invest a little time and effort. I like to try and show them that for something to be good it doesn’t have to be modern and instantaneous – even old books can be good sometimes!

[aquarium444]

The Readers are good because they have a built in dictionary. What they need to work on is page navigation in large books. Some books would benefit more than others. Obviously there are advantages such as being able to carry around and refer to dozens of ebooks.

Reading Online is okay, but not as good as using a Reader. The screen is the problem.

[Revolte]

hmmm, well I am guilty of being part of the E-book world, but only because of funds. Nothing gives me the same satisfaction as holding the book in my hands, but I do seem to read through something easier online.