Digital vs book reading

I have just been listening to a radio talk (November 2018) with a neuroscientist Mary Anne Wolfe on the difference between skim reading on screen vs deep reading in print. The screen develops faster processing of information and so can cover larger areas of a topic while print develops slower processing and deeper reading which is good for comprehension and critical analysis.
This may mean less time on checking facts and alternative viewpoints but she noted that teachers can teach deep reading on screen. The teacher must ask "What is the purpose of the learning" and match purpose to mode as students need to have skills in both skimming and deep reading.

When I started working in a paperless school with Beginning teachers, I noticed the difficulties they were having in keeping students on task and not being distracted by the digital media. I suggested that perhaps in the afternoon periods when the students are usually less alert that they use textbooks and paper. It was like a miracle - the students were working with paper and pens and treated it as a novelty. So, like everything, blended according to purpose is a good solution.
PS: I have to say that as a once avid book reader I now spend far more time reading digitally.


Another viewpoint from Dr David Parsons, Associate Professor Massey University, explains the need to teach higher level thinking skills and develop key competencies using technology to prepare students for the 21st century. He sees digital learning as transformative. See SOLO and SOLO apps SAMR model which shows how to move students to higher levels of digital thinking SAMR and Blooms taxonomy for higher thinking by level

Minister for Education, Chris Hipkins
“The digital curriculum is about teaching children how to design their own digital solutions and become creators of, not just users of, digital technologies, to prepare them for the modern workforce."

and not forgetting Manaiakalani and the Learn, Create Share philosophy