In today’s increasingly digital world, the question of whether reading comprehension is better or worse with digital text has become a subject of much debate and research and there are many studies and articles that address this issue. Screens are here to stay, and as students spend more and more time interacting with digital texts, educators and researchers alike are concerned about the potential impact on their reading skills. It leaves teachers wondering whether continuing to teach with “old school” paper text is enough to prepare students for reading complex texts in a digital world.
The Research on Reading Comprehension and Digital Text
Recent studies have shed light on the complexities of this issue. The vast majority of research suggests that digital reading may hinder reading comprehension (Shanahan, 2024), while others argue that it can be just as effective as traditional print reading, depending on the specific circumstances. One study published in the journal Psychological Science found that reading comprehension was significantly lower when students read on digital devices compared to print. The researchers attributed this difference to the type of text, length, distractions and multitasking (e.g., checking social media, responding to text messages, alert and notification pop ups, listening to music, etc.) that are more prevalent in digital environments.
However, digital reading can also be beneficial in many ways. For example, when reading on-screen, in most cases, the reader can adjust the size of the text, change the background color, typeface, and have the text read to them. Many of these adjustments are helpful for students who don’t see well or have reading disabilities such as dyslexia. Reading online also carries the benefit of hyperlinks that may lead to definitions of new or confusing words or lead a reader to learn more about a particular topic (Hurt, 2021). “When texts are short – a page or less – and comprehension demands light (what’s the main idea?), we do pretty well with either kind of text. But as learning demands increase and texts are more extensive, paper wins hands down (Shanahan, 2024).
Factors Affecting Reading Comprehension with Digital Text
Several factors can influence how well students comprehend digital text:
- Device Type: The type of device used for reading can impact comprehension. Studies have shown that reading on smaller screens, such as smartphones, can be more challenging than reading on larger screens, such as tablets or computers.
- Sense of Place: The smaller font and the amount of scrolling required, especially for longer texts, affects students’ sense of place in the text. “When reading a printed page or even a whole book, you tend to know where you are.” Not just where you are on some particular page, but when page – potentially out of many. You might, for instance, remember that the part of the story where the dog died was near the top of the page on the left side. You don’t have that sense of place when some enormously long page just scrolls past you. Why is sense of page important? Researchers have shown that we tend to make mental maps when we learn something. Being able to ‘place’ a fact somewhere on a mental map of the page helps us remember it” (Hurt, 2021).
- Text Format: The format of the digital text can also affect comprehension. For example, studies have shown that students may have difficulty comprehending text that is poorly formatted or contains excessive multimedia elements. An example of this would be reading from a website with advertisements and pop-ups, versus reading a PDF or from an educational website designed to help students navigate the digital text.
- Reader Characteristics: Individual differences, such as reading ability and motivation, can also play a role in how well students comprehend digital text.
- Distractions: Reading on a personal device inherently carries many distractions such as alerts, pop up notifications, and the opportunity to easily swipe to check social media, text messages and interact with music.
Strategies for Improving Reading Comprehension with Digital Text
While the research on digital reading is still evolving, there are a few strategies that teachers can implement to help students improve their reading comprehension with digital text:
- Teach Strategies for Digital Reading: “Young people aren’t as good with these tools as they think they are” (Shanahan, 2024). Students need to be made aware of their “tech fallibility” and taught how to navigate digital texts effectively, identify credible sources, and evaluate information critically. We need to teach them how to read and navigate digital texts effectively to help increase comprehension and understanding. Modeling is a great way to do this.
- Encourage Active Reading through the use of Strategies and Tools: Encourage students to slow down and engage actively with the text by annotating, highlighting, and taking notes. If digital tools for this exist, teach them how to use the tools, and expect they use them. If not, consider using ALM strategies like the Double Entry Organizer for making notes and asking questions of what they read or the Alphablocks strategy for keeping track of key words. In fact, taking some of the work off of the digital page can be beneficial. “Research studies have found that students remember, understand, and can apply more of what they learn when it is written in longhand on paper than when typed into a digital device. That is because writing requires the brain to do more thought processing and summarizing of the content, compared to the mechanical process of typing” (Sousa, 2022).
- Limit Distractions: Teach students to create a distraction-free environment for reading by turning off notifications, using website blockers to minimize distractions and resisting the urge to check social media and texts. Students can concentrate when they read digitally, but they have to be intentional and make an effort.
When I think about this topic, I think back to a previous blog I wrote called Not this or That, but Both/And: Using ALM to Make Other High Quality Instructional Resources Even Better for Students. I don’t think we have to choose all print or all digital text, but we provide opportunities for students to interact with and read both depending on our purpose. And when doing so, we teach and prepare our students how to become better readers regardless of what type of text they read.
The impact of digital text on reading comprehension is a complex issue with no easy answers. By understanding the purpose for reading, the factors that influence reading comprehension with digital text and implementing effective strategies, teachers can help students develop the skills they need to succeed in the digital age.
Works Cited
Hurt, A. E. (2021, October 18). Will you learn better from reading on screen or on paper?. Science News Explores. https://www.snexplores.org/article/learn-comprehension-reading-digital-screen-paper#:~:text=Want%20to%20know%20the%20current,The%20question%20is:%20Why?
Shanahan, T. (2024a, November 10). Is comprehension better with digital text?. Shanahan on Literacy. https://www.shanahanonliteracy.com/blog/is-comprehension-better-with-digital-text-1
Sousa, D. A. (2022). How the brain learns. Corwin.