As I contemplate the question of how I process information and read, I am struck with the quandary which I am in regarding this.
Some of my best times of relaxation and switching off have been lying at a beach, 10 nights away, 11 books to read – accomplished with ease. Without the distraction of screens (or work) I have been able to fully focus on the words on pages and the imagination landscapes where I can escape to in my mind. This contrasts to what I do on a daily basis, with work and university studies. Most of my reading for this involves screen time. The ideal for me is feeling pages turning under my fingers, however the convenience of instant access outways this in everyday life.

Bliss! Photo by form PxHere

I see similar trends in my own teenage crew at home. While they far prefer drawing to reading as one of their pastimes, the bulk of their reading time is spent on devices. Like Taylor (2018) suggests, teenagers reading often involves a multisensory experience with headphones and multiple tabs open on a computer. While the efficiency of this style of learning is one that as a parent I often question, it does appear to be the way it is done.

The library which I teach in does not currently have immediate access to a huge amount of technology, so e-books have not been a trend from this library. During lockdown 2021, there was some use of reading platforms, such as Reading Eggs/Express and PM Readers for students to access stories from home, however, as many families don’t have reliable internet or devices at home it was not heavily promoted due to equity in access. Having access to digital forms of stories can become a financial issue for many families and is one which needs to be considered.

Sparks (2021) raises interesting questions of whether screen enhances comprehension in the readers which also needs to be taken into consideration with classroom use versus at home usage. An interesting perspective which does need further investigating.

References
Sparks, S. D. (2021, July 22). Reading on screen vs. print: New analysis thickens the plot on promoting comprehension. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/reading-on-screen-vs-print-new-analysis-thickens-the-plot-on-promoting-comprehension/2021/07

Taylor, A. (2018, September 16). ‘Technology can bring books alive’: Harry Potter inspires novel with moving images. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/technology-can-bring-books-alive-harry-potter-inspires-novel-with-moving-images-20180915-p50407.html