The term digital literature and digital literature environments can be interpreted in a wide variety of ways depending on your context, knowledge and opinions. Coming into this subject I had very little real understanding of the complexities that are involved when considering digital literature and its many different forms. Like many people when I think of digital literature I automatically think of digital versions of print books (Leu, McVerry, O’Byrne, Kiili, Zawilinski, Everett-Cacopardo, Kennedy & Forzani, 2011) when in reality, and as I have discover throughout much reading that there are a number of additional complexities involved in true forms of digital literature (Sadokierski, 2013).
When considering what makes a true piece of digital literature, I have discovered that large number of complex forms of digital technology are needed to work together to build an interactive form of digital narrative (Sadokierski, 2013). As an educator it is also important to consider some of the pros and cons of how digital literature can be incorporated into teaching, and although my understanding of the vast range of benefits of digital literature is continuing to develop the obvious benefits of cost, usability and ease of access need to be considered when looking at using digital literature in the classroom (Sadokierski, 2013). Another factor to consider when looking at the benefits of digital literature is the range of different comprehension skills needed for reading digitally compared to paper based reading (Leu, et al, 2011). The comprehension skills needed for reading digitally range far wider than basic comprehension and reasoning, which is a skill not only a great number of students struggle with but may adults as well (Leu, et al, 2011).
Through my reading so far, I have developed a stronger understanding of what should and is typically considered as true digital literature. One form of digital literature I have explored so far and believe would be the most beneficial when incorporating into teaching would be the use of interactive stories as a way to engage students into digital literature. Digital stories give reader the opportunity to immerse themselves into the stories through self-reading, listening and playing. Allowing them to interpret the stories in a number of ways based on their own comprehension skills (Lamb, 2011). The devices on which different forms of digital literature are presented also impact the way a piece of literature is interpreted and used. A digital story presented on an iPad or kindle style device allows the reader to adjust front size and lighting as well as the iPad can become interactive within the story (Jabr, 2013). The use of a PC creates a different form of digital literature as the reader will often interact with a screen and mouse and click through rather than touch the literature.
It is important t to remember when interacting with digital literature and digital stories that the brain interprets the language differently to print based literature so the format and features of the digital literature are often designed to specifically focus on those skills (Jabr, 2013).
References
Jabr, F. (2013, April 11). The reading brain in the digital age: The science of paper versus screens. Scientific American. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/reading-paper-screens/
Lamb, A. (2011). Reading redefined for a transmedia universe. Learning and Leading with Technology, 39(3), 12-17. http://ezproxy.csu.edu.au/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=67371172&site=ehost-live
Leu, D. J., McVerry, J. G., O’Byrne, W. I., Kiili, C., Zawilinski, L., Everett-Cacopardo, H., Kennedy, C., & Forzani, E. (2011). The new literacies of online reading comprehension: Expanding the literacy and learning curriculum. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 55(1), 5-14. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228409747_The_New_Literacies_of_Online_Reading_Comprehension_Expanding_the_Literacy_and_Learning_Curriculum
Sadokierski, Z. (2013, November 12). What is a book in the digital age? The Conversation. http://theconversation.com/what-is-a-book-in-the-digital-age-19071
August 1, 2021 at 5:36 am
Some great points here, Ann, providing some useful insight into your current understanding of the topic., though I would have liked to see a little more of your personal perspective come through with a reflective post like this one. Be cautious of definitive statements like that in your final paragraph about how the brain interprets language, as it needs more unpacking than you had room for here, and there has been some change in the thinking over the intervening eight years or so 🙂
A reminder that APA 7th only requires you to put all the authors in the in-text reference if it’s two or fewer – you got it right the second citation (no comma before the et al., though). Also, it’s recommended you include the page / para for all in-text citations, even when you’re paraphrasing.
Cheers
Tehani