The Internet and Reading
by Donald Pashby
The internet is seemingly everywhere. Its
ubiquity has changed our culture in countless ways, including how we
shop, communicate and view ourselves in the world. Because they have
never known life without it, today’s teens are experiencing life in a
totally different way than most of their teachers. The implications of
this cultural shift are profound, and the field of education is no
exception. Stunning statistics abound about how teens don’t read
anymore; anecdotal evidence seems to back them up. The rise of social
media sites, video games and other media consume a student’s free time.
These facts beg an important question for educators: How can we help
and prepare our students to be successful through reading?
The answer is not easy. Reading demands time and
concentration, two things that are in short supply for many today.
First of all, the nature of the internet is distraction. Harlan,
Loertscher, and McElmeel state that 93% of students are online every
day, and last year the Kaiser Family Foundation reported “that on
average, children ages 8 to 18 spend 7 hours and 38 min. a day using
entertainment media” (Conley, 2011).
Teens use varied media for almost everything at the same time, and that
has consequences. Jumping from site to site or attempting to multitask
actually makes kids less adept at reading. If one accepts the idea that
not only what we read is important, but how, then the picture becomes
even starker (Carr, 2008). Students read Facebook statuses, texts and
short summaries, all while taking pictures of themselves, texting
others and playing games online. Such distraction affects the way the
brain processes information. A group of researches at UCLA discovered
in a study that those who multi-tasked were less able to concentrate
and retain what they had been focusing on (Conley, 2011).
I consistently have students who brag about not reading, and even those
who are great students profess that reading is boring. It is certainly
not a rosy picture. However, there are things we can do. Many students
do read for fun, and others would with the right set up circumstances.
There is an endless supply of good stories out there for them. The
trick is connecting the two.
Fortunately there are some great ideas out there. Some schools are
instituting online book communities. These are sites that are set up by
teens for teens and follow the same format that other forms of familiar
online activities use. Such a format is inviting and comfortable, plus
it has the added credibility of coming from peers and not being from a
“preachy” adult (Peowski, 2010). Another idea involves engaging
students in much the same ways that other celebrities do: through the
web. Authors and publishers are setting up websites that explore the
worlds of their books, give updates on characters, and allow the author
to blog about what is going on and if there are any new books arriving
soon (Beaman 2006). J.K Rowling has done this with her Pottermore site.
Perhaps through this process, students can even find
books about technology or that have technological thematic material.
One such book that examines our dependence on technology is Feed
by M.T. Anderson. For those readers who enjoy books that cast young
adults as the oppressed turned hero, there is Little Brother by Cory
Dotorow. Both books have websites devoted to them and provide “behind
the scenes” information to help students feel even more involved.
As educators, we cannot give up. Nor can we ignore the tidal wave of
change that the internet brings. Instead, we can use the web to create
environments where students can learn about books, authors and genres
in order to stimulate their interest. It is a challenging and
transitional time, but with the right tools, strategies and attitudes,
there will always be readers.
References
Beaman, Anita. (2006). How Technology Is Enhancing the Pleasure Reading Experience for Teens. Knowledge Quest, 35(1), 30-33. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
Carr, N. (2008 1-July/August). Is Google Making Us Stupid? Retrieved
2011 3-October from The Atlantic:
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/6868/
Conley, D. (2011 21-February). Wired for Distraction: Kids and Social Media. Retrieved 2011 3-October from Time.com: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2048363,00.html
Harlan, M. A., Loertscher, D. V., & McElmeel, S. L. (2011). Young Adult Literature and Multimedia: a quick guide. Learning Commons Press.
Rushkoff, D. (Writer), & Dretzin, R. (Director). (2010). Growing Up Online [Motion Picture].
Young Adult Books Referenced
Anderson, Matthew T. (2004). Feed. (p.299). Somerville, MA: Candlewick
Doctorow, Cory. (2010). Little Brother (p. 416). New York, NY: Tor Teen