E-books, schools and reading online

Guests: Naomi Baron, Benjamin Herold and Heather Schugar

School districts locally and around the country are increasingly incorporating digital learning devices into the classroom. One in three K-12 public and private school students are using school issued laptops or tablets. To reduce the high costs associated with college texts, increased reliance on online reading materials is also occurring on the University level. The trend has raised some red flags among researchers who are concerned about the differences between reading printed books vs. e-books when it comes to comprehension and actual learning. We’ll explore the pros and cons of digital reading in schools, and for pleasure, with NAOMI BARON, Executive Professor of linguistics at American University, BENJAMIN HEROLD, technology reporter for Education Week, and HEATHER SCHUGAR, associate professor of literacy at West Chester University.