Technology has become an integral part of our
society. We use different forms of technology all day long such as: social
media apps, laptops for work, paying bills online, streaming shows and movies
to our electronic devices, etc. Influenced by digital mediums, our access to
information is available at any time and is only as far away as our keyboard or
phone, but is the digital influence a positive change? Are we letting
technology take over our learning processes? Are we using the technology
available to us in the best ways?
Digital text has made itself irreplaceable in
mainstream society, as well as academia. Digital writing is accessible to
anyone who has the technology to utilize it (phone, tablets, and computers). It
is easier and less costly to read online text, whether it’s a college textbook
or a recreational read. However, there are several
downfalls to reading text online. Let’s check the pros and cons of digital
reading.
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Our society has a history with the
traditional printed word. The bonding experience with printed texts begins in
childhood. Early reading experiences with parents providing the basis for
identifying the activity of reading with printed materials. The security and
the safety children feel when bonding with their parents is transferred to the
printed books during this special time spent together. Printed text has been
proven to have several benefits over the online version of the same material.
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Printed materials activate several different
parts of your brain at the same time: touch, sight, smell and hearing (if you
read the text out loud). This activity leads to more paths the information
takes through your brain, which results in better recall when it’s time to take
a test.
Most experts believe that the application of digital
text has advantages,
if it used correctly. For example, instead of having every textbook for a class
be an online version, select which texts are more crucial to the outcome of the
class, and require those be print versions. If there are articles for journals
or magazines that will tie into a lesson, then assign those digitally. This
would be a great way to integrate digital media into the classroom while still
having the advantages of the print medium. |
| mhpbooks.com |
Another
possible solution to digital not being a great fit for a classroom setting is
to the train the students to slow down and read the article. Students in our
society have been trained to think they have to complete an assignment in a
block of time. The standardization of student testing starting in elementary
school has led to students who rush through their reading in order to make sure
they have enough time to complete the questions. If we can train the students
to slow down and really absorb in what is being said in the digital article or
textbook, this could lead to students taking their time and not skimming the
digital text, thus giving them a better sense of the material.
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| ecommercetimes.com |
In
day to day life, digital media is a wonderfully easy way to gain information
quickly. Looking for a quick report on the political candidates or the status
of your local sports team, digital is the way to go. The abbreviated style of
most online media is great for those who want just a cursory knowledge of a
topic. However, if a person needs a full understanding of a topic, research
shows that print is the way to go. Working
knowledge has been shown to be better attained by print writing.
Me personally, I love printed
books. I love everything about them. Their texture, the smell of the ink, the
weight as I try to balance it in one hand so I can drink my coffee and the
excitement I feel waiting to turn the page. I don’t get the same feeling about
reading digital texts. Scrolling is not the same as turning the page and
hearing the pages scrape against each other. This where I believe that most of
our preference comes from: emotional attachment. I may be biased because of my
B.S. in Psychology (yes, you read that correctly and yes, it’s ok to laugh),
but I enjoy reading when it is printed. I feel like I’m part of the story if I
am reading fiction or part of the discussion if I am reading a text book. It is
easier to remember something when you like doing it.
Digital books are not going
away. They will continue to be part of the conversation regarding education and
general reading. Everyone has their preferences, but evolution is part of life,
and the writing/reading world is ever evolving. While the debate continues, I’ll
be over in the corner, reading a book.
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| goodreads.com |
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