Study Says Stick with Print Books for Reading Comprehension
Reading is a pillar of a child’s education – not only key to exams, but also essential for learning all other school subjects. We use reading comprehension skills when checking emails, following the news, and reading for fun. But not all reading is the same. In fact, using new technology to teach reading skills may actually be hurting learners. What does this meaning for parents, teachers, and students?
Reading Comprehension and Screens
A newly released study by Columbia University’s Teachers College shows that reading print texts leads to much greater comprehension than reading from a screen. The study recorded brain activity in children as they read and completed single-word semantic judgement tasks, which test their ability to identify related and unrelated words. After children read from a screen, the test observed shallow reading patterns, whilst deeper reading patterns were observed after children read from a print text.
The study included children ages 10-12, an important age in reading development when students start reading to gain information, rather than reading in order to gain reading skills. It shows that print reading at this stage in a child’s development helps them better understand what they are reading and learn information from texts. This skill is important for reading development and for learning across all school subjects.
The study is not yet peer-reviewed, but its results are similar to earlier research by social scientists like Anne Mangen. These studies gave students reading comprehension tests after reading print or digital texts. Students’ scores were higher after reading print texts, indicating that they better understood what they had read.
What Does this Mean for Schools and Teachers?
The study has prompted calls for schools to reconsider transitioning to digital learning. In recent years, many schools have been investing in digital technology, a trend accelerated by the pandemic. AQA has announced that some GCSEs will be administered on computers in the near future. However, the scientists behind the study suggest that there is still a value in having print books in schools. Digital learning just doesn’t compare.
This study comes at the same time as children’s book authors come together to call for a school libraries mandate. School libraries- with a focus on books, not on technology and communications – are important for fostering a love of reading in schoolchildren. They allow children to experience books for themselves, not as part of a set curriculum. Simply having access to print books is key to helping students learn to reading widely and deeply.
With rapid changes in technology and schooling, parents might be worried their children are falling behind. However, there are some ways parents can make sure that their children get the reading comprehension support they need.
Parents should keep on top of what and how their children are learning in school. A parent might follow their child’s reading comprehension marks as well as how they learn new information across subjects. Falling behind in any area might mean the child needs some more reading comprehension support. Depending on the level of support the child needs, this might include specialised reading comprehension work in school, private tutoring, or simply guiding the child through reading comprehension exercises at home.
There is still a role for digital reading in school and at home. You can help your child get the most out of digital reading by encouraging them to reading slowly and carefully, not just skim for content. If your child is reading for homework or fun, ask them questions afterwards. Can they tell you the key points of the reading? What did they enjoy about the text? Do they have any questions or ideas they’d like to think about further?
How Can I Encourage My Child to Read Books?
No matter what a child is learning in school, reading print books for fun is key to developing reading comprehension skills. It doesn’t necessarily matter what kind of book – reading light or even silly books can help build the skills needed to tackle more complicated content. Parents and teachers can help a child’s reading comprehension by finding them books that follow their interests and hobbies, encouraging reading as a habit and a passion. Want more tips? Check out our blog post on How to Give Books to Your Children.
Book lovers make finding books an activity. Parents might bring their children on trips to the local library for events or just to browse the shelves. Or they might visit a bookshop, showing children how to choose books that they will love. These kinds of activities make reading print books into a family outing or special event, a practice that will foster a love of reading throughout a child’s life.
Reading comprehension is a cornerstone of a child’s schooling. A new study shows that digital learning hurts deep reading – but technology in schools doesn’t need to be the end of reading comprehension. Parents and teachers can encourage a love of print reading in and out of school by bringing children to libraries, finding them books they love, and teaching them how to handle and appreciate print books. Encouraging a love of books and of reading is a great way to ensure children practise and develop reading skills from their school years on.
In addition to a love of reading, parents and educators can cultivate an appreciation for print books. Children might learn how books are organised and bound, and how cover art, illustrations, and chapter headings teach you about the book’s content. They might collect print books by their favourite authors or choose special editions of their favourite books. Or they might personalise their books with a nameplate or comments in the margins and end pages. This turns books into treasured objects to keep for life – or gift to a friend or family member. (We’ve got more tips on enjoying books here.)
