Literacy Problems in the New Digital Reality (By the Example of Schoolchildren). Part I

Abstract

Linear printed text and nonlinear hypertext compete for the attention of children and adults. The article will focus on the problems of reading in the new digital reality associated with the emergence of new format texts and changing reading practices. This issue is becoming relevant, as digital reading begins to prevail over traditional, which has an impact on individual readers and on the education system as a whole. This problem remains insufficiently studied in the social Sciences. The first part of the article discusses the possible social and pedagogical consequences of the transition to digital reading in education. A review of scientific research on the problem shows that children understand texts better if they read them on paper. One reason for this is the different purposes with which we read printed and digital texts. Screen reading is more often a means to communicate or to find information, with the result that the mechanism of digital reading can be defined as «read-slip» as opposed to a slower, thoughtful immersion in printed text. The modern education system should provide conditions for the formation of double literacy: traditional and new, which will allow to understand the deep and complex things presented in digital and printed format. The results of the empirical study of reading practices of fourth grade students will be presented in the second part of the article.