69´«Ã½

69´«Ã½ & Literacy

4 Tips for 69´«Ã½ Success: How to Combine Screens and Printed Text

By Laura Baker & Sarah Schwartz — April 03, 2023 1 min read
Image of a stack of books and a digital tablet.
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

While many schools already used digital tools in their teaching of reading prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, extended periods of remote or hybrid schooling certainly quickened the pace and appetite for technology.

In fact, surveys now show that school library budgets have been shifting to digital assets over the past few years, especially at the high school level. In a 2021 survey of librarians conducted by the School Library Journal, .

As this hybrid learning experience involving books and screens becomes more commonplace, it’s important for educators to understand the strengths of each format, particularly around reading and understanding content.

Below are examples that show the strengths and weaknesses of print and digital experiences for four reading instruction priorities.

1. 69´«Ã½ aloud to, and with, young children

Children often work with adults and partners as they practice their reading skills, and that interaction can be enhanced in powerful ways by reading print material together. Still, studies show e-books can help to improve reading skills, too. . Of course, that is the case for reading print books, too.

2. Navigating text features

Some studies have shown that students struggle more with comprehension when they are reading on digital devices rather than with print materials.

3. Understanding complex text

Studies show that readers may remember specific details better from digital books, but they may lose an understanding of overarching ideas threaded through the content.

4. Accessibility for readers with learning challenges

E-books can be more accessible for individuals with disabilities, such as those with visual impairments, as they can easily adjust the font size, contrast, and color scheme. But never underestimate the power of one-on-one interaction to gauge understanding and lead students through challenges.

Related 69´«Ã½

69´«Ã½ & Literacy Kids Understand More From Books Than Screens, But That's Not Always the Case
What the research says about the benefits and drawbacks of reading on screens versus printed text.
7 min read
ed tech survey march 2023 schwartz
F. Sheehan / Education Week and Getty<br/>
69´«Ã½ & Literacy What the Research Says 69´«Ã½ on Screen vs. Print: New Analysis Thickens the Plot on Promoting Comprehension
Electronic books could boost young children's comprehension more than print, but few enhance, rather than distract, new study finds
4 min read
Image of someone holding a tablet and a book.
Carolina Jaramillo/iStock/Getty
69´«Ã½ & Literacy How Should 69´«Ã½ Be Taught in a Digital Era?
Most experts agree that even the very youngest students should be learning with a mix of print and digital texts.
10 min read
Both printed texts and digital readers have their places in a 3rd grade classroom at Indian Run Elementary School in Dublin, Ohio.
Both printed texts and digital readers have their places in a 3rd grade classroom at Indian Run Elementary School in Dublin, Ohio.
Maddie McGarvey for Education Week

All interactives are created by Laura Baker/Education Week via Canva.

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Artificial Intelligence Webinar
AI and Educational Leadership: Driving Innovation and Equity
Discover how to leverage AI to transform teaching, leadership, and administration. Network with experts and learn practical strategies.
Content provided by 
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School Climate & Safety Webinar
Investing in Success: Leading a Culture of Safety and Support
Content provided by 
Assessment K-12 Essentials Forum Making Competency-Based Learning a Reality
Join this free virtual event to hear from educators and experts working to implement competency-based education.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

69´«Ã½ & Literacy Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know About Student Literacy Data?
Answer 7 questions about the importance of student literacy data and how to collect and use it.
69´«Ã½ & Literacy Q&A What Is Disciplinary Literacy?
Tim Shanahan's research helped crystallize the idea of "discipline specific literacy." How has it evolved?
10 min read
Illustration of directional signs and book.
Dan Page for Education Week
69´«Ã½ & Literacy What Happens When Every Teacher in a School Has the Tools to Improve 69´«Ã½?
In a whole-school literacy initiative, students learn metacognitive tools to help with reading and then apply them across content areas.
8 min read
Illustration of words being highlighted.
Dan Page for Education Week
69´«Ã½ & Literacy Do Leveled Books Have Any Place in the Classroom?
As the "science of reading" movement has spread, predictable texts for beginning readers have come under fire.
6 min read
Illustration of stacked books and ladder.
Getty Images Plus