Digital Readings Vs Print Reading: Influences and Preferences

Introduction

In today’s society, there have been many debates on the topic of digital reading vs print reading, and which is more influential. Some may say that digital texts, including graphics and images, have been increasing in popularity lately, since technology also became popular. Although that may be true, others say that printed texts have been around for hundreds of years, and they don’t seem as if they’re being driven away by the rise of digital text.

Arguments for Digital Reading

Digital reading has certainly become more important for education. In most schools, it’s essential for the students to bring in iPads or tablets to work on. Many say that this is because digital texts are able to be adjusted for the needs of the student. When using technology with digital texts, it’s very easy to delete, copy, translate, and do many more actions to the text. Certain assessments, such as NAPLAN and OLNA are also now done online, and students are expected to type everything up. It’s quite clear that schools are relying more and more on technology, and therefore, digital text. It’s seen as being easier for students, and also easier for teachers to mark.

Arguments for Print Reading

However, for the older generations within society, print reading is more simple and that’s what they have grown up with. When you think about newspapers, it’s usually older people who are still interested in them. Perhaps they find the feeling of the paper helps them engage with the actual text. Many studies have shown that a large percentage of people find it easier to concentrate on a text when they physically have to hold it. In this case, it would be easier to read from a newspaper or a book, rather than scrolling through an article online, especially because you’re likely to be interrupted by ads and popups when using technology and the internet.

Conclusion

Personally, I prefer print texts. When studying, I’d much rather use a physical textbook than an online version, as I just find it more captivating and easier to pay attention to. However, I do believe that digital texts have become more influential in our society, especially as technology evolves. These days, many more people are visual learners and therefore grasp new concepts easier by looking at graphics, and images, and being able to manipulate their texts in different ways. Digital text makes it much easier to do these things, which is why it’s becoming more prevalent. 

References

1. Warschauer, M. (2018). Digital literacy and digital literacies: Policy, pedagogy and research considerations for education. Nordic Journal of Digital Literacy, 13(1), 2-19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18261/issn.1891-943x-2018-01-01

2. Carr, N. (2010). The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains. W. W. Norton & Company.

   Keep in mind:
   This is only a sample.

   Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.

   Get custom essay

3. Liu, Z. (2010). Reading behavior in the digital environment: Changes in reading behavior over the past ten years. Journal of Documentation, 66(5), 681-702. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/00220411011066763