The important thing is to read. Advantages of digital reading
The use of digital media in education has been boosted worldwide in the last two years due to the pandemic. Today, as many schools have returned to in-person instruction, we realize that we cannot take steps backward and deny the advantages offered by digital materials.
The use of digital media in education has exploded worldwide in the last two years due to the pandemic. Today, as many schools have returned to in-person instruction, we realize that we cannot take steps back and deny the advantages offered by digital materials. In the face of the debate about which is better, physical books or digital books, we romantics champion the feeling of walking into a bookstore, smelling the pages of a book, being able to take your book anywhere (without relying on batteries or internet connections), and even being able to own a signed edition from your favorite author as a souvenir.
However, most publishers already publish digital books and have understood that technology has changed the way we read. More and more schools are choosing to adopt a digital reading plan for their students. Additionally, to make the digital reading experience more comprehensive for students, there are platforms that offer reading preparation exercises, comprehension exercises, post-reading exercises, and, in more robust cases like iRead, even a record of the reading progress for monitoring.
Among the advantages we can find in digital reading, we can highlight the following:
- Readers can take their "library of books" (not just one book) with them wherever they want and read at any time, without carrying too much weight or taking up much space, since they can store their books on their mobile device, which is usually small.
- E-books are much cheaper than paperbacks. Plus, purchasing and downloading e-books is instant.
- Digital reading offers access to rich content such as videos, images, references, links, and audio, providing more information about what you're reading.
- Digital reading can be interactive due to this additional content and the resources that publishers offer to complement the readings.
- Many e-books come with built-in lighting and the ability to enlarge letters, change fonts, look up words in a built-in dictionary or translator, and even have audiobook versions.
- The “environmental cost” of a digital book is much lower than that of a printed one.
- For younger generations, it can make reading a more interesting, easier, or more fun activity. This, in particular, can have a significant impact on developing reading habits in children.
The digital world is reaching our children at an increasingly early age. This reality is inevitable, and it's up to us to make the most of digital tools for the benefit of our children. It's important to recognize that reading can be one of the best ways to introduce our little ones to the digital world and, at the same time, reinforce their reading habits. As parents and educators, we need to learn more, evaluate the digital content we present to our children, and find opportunities to use it with them as a family. Additionally, we must always promote adult-child interaction and not try to replace it with screen time. Reading is important, but it's better to read as a family. #RichmondSolutionCommunity #RSTeachers #iRead
