I recently read an article by Petra Stock, entitled "Streaming Stories: Will Children’s Digital Book Platforms Upend Print", an interesting discussion comparing ebooks and print media and the ways they are being used during and post COVID.
Which is better according to the article? Well, there is a clear winner; however, like many things, the answer can depend on the situation. I'd like to break elements of the article down, along with my own thoughts and compare the two.
Social connectivity
When print books are read to young children, there is a social connectivity, that is less present than when digital texts are read. This continues in school, where students will read with their class or teacher, digital texts are more likely to be an independent experience.
Winner: Print
Screen time
One of the greatest concerns among parents is the amount of screen time children have today; while digital books may be “guilt free” screen time, it is nonetheless still time on a screen.
Winner: Print
Comprehension
All things being equal, where a book has the illustrations and text scanned to a digital format; studies have shown that readers who engage with print, read with greater concentration and deeper understanding, whereas reading on a screen tends toward quick shallow scanning behaviour.
Winner: Print
Interactivity
Where a book has been designed for digital consumption or has added features, such as interactivity, animation, music and so on, readers may engage more closely with the text, these books have the potential to improve learning.
Winner: Digital
Dynamic
Print books, once printed are static, you cannot change the font, the background, or the text size. Digital books have accessibility features built in so that you can tailor the experience to your own personal tastes or needs in a given situation. Some ebooks also have the capacity to supply a reader to the text.
Winner: Digital
Physicality
Physical books have the opportunity to play with size and physicality in way that digital texts cannot. A digital text presents everything at the size of the screen you are using, and, while you may be able to zoom in and out, you are changing the whole page. Where a physical book about “tiny things” could be printed in a tiny size or vice versa.
Winner: Print
Convenience
The majority of people carry the capacity to read digitally with them everywhere they go, as a phone, tablet or laptop can be used to read books, and not just one, there is access to almost limitless digital texts online. I could easily carry the entire ‘Wheel of Time’ on my phone, a task I would struggle with in print.
Winner: Digital
Preference
Despite lockdowns during the pandemic, paperbook sales for 2020 – 2021 were approximately 66 million, an 8% rise over the previous years. There is just something, almost theatrical about reading a book, holding it in your hands, engaging your sense of touch, smell and sight. Paperbacks have proven to be the most popular format for readers, followed by hardback and then electronic forms.
Winner: Print
While print, is the clear winner in the article, if you enjoy an e-book, or find it more convenient to carry, or listen to an audiobook while doing other tasks, please don’t feel like these are bad or less desirable. Reading is reading, and reading is good! Perhaps, though, mix it up a bit and try a physical book, visit your library, an op-shop or bookstore. Compare your experiences, engage with both, you may just find a new way to experience and engage with reading.
Latest Blog
Making a Positive Impact with Homework Assistance
The Anglicare Homework Assistance Program (HAP), run in conjunction with Darling Heights State School, sees many of our boys volunteer their time on Wednesdays after class to help many young refugee and primary school students facing challenging times with their homework, or to chat and play games. Our boys thoroughly enjoy meeting, supporting and learning about the lives of the younger children. This forges community connections and fosters inclusion for the Darling Heights students; it also…
Fresh Faces Guide - TGS Sportsmen into the Fray
With their dedication to excellence and player development, TGS athletes are in good hands as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of competitive sports.
Honouring Tradition, Preparing for the Future
They will invariably be inspired by effective teaching and the satisfaction of personal achievement will always be motivating. At Toowoomba Grammar School, the power of high-quality instructional practices has resulted in the development of a strong academic culture that has endured for nearly 150 years. Preserving core principles provides stability and continuity. However, we must be open to continuously adapting our methods so that our students are well-prepared for the ever-changing world…
We See You - Mitchell Wilkes
That was the heart-wrenching diagnosis for Year 10 student, Mitchell Wilkes, right on Christmas in 2021. Mitchell’s mum noticed he wasn’t reading properly and had a gut feeling that there was something wrong with his eyesight. A trip to the optometrist revealed a thinning in the retina, and further tests showed that Mitchell had a genetic condition called Stargardt Disease, a juvenile macular degeneration illness that results in slow central vision loss.
Correcting our School's official record commemorating World War I and World War II
On the eve of our 150th year, we're calling on the School's alumni, parents, past parents and greater community to aid us in correcting the record of our involvement in two watershed geopolitical events of the 20th century. For the last four years Toowoomba Grammar School Museum Volunteers, Mrs Ann Hallam and Mrs Sue Palmer, have been updating the School records on Old Boys, staff and Trustees for the World War I and World War II theatres of war. Over the years several staff and volunteers have…
A Pioneering Woman of TGS
My late husband was a teacher, and our four children are all teachers, which we encouraged them to do because it is the best job in the world. It’s hard to believe I’ve been here for 36 years, working under four Headmasters: Mr Bill Dent, Mr Hugh Rose, Mr Peter Hauser and now Dr John Kinniburgh. I still drive into the School each day and smile, looking at the beautiful place it is — magnificent ovals, gracious trees and historically significant buildings. It is difficult to express the…
NZ Rugby Tour success, more than winning matches across the Ditch
The teams were undefeated and it was a trip the players will never forget. This tour was years in the making and heralds a new era of touring and hosting different rugby schools to give our players opportunities for growth as athletes and as people. Head of Sport - Rugby, Mr Lincoln Clapham, explained they selected 46 students to take part in the ten-day tour and began training last year. From Term 1 onwards, the squad trained twice weekly on the oval plus two and sometimes three gym sessions…
Aussie Teen Reading Habits Revealed
I was recently sent an article, summarising some research from Deakin University around the reading habits of teens in 2024. Some of it was, as the title suggests, surprising. Some was not. However, all of it was built around the importance of reading, and supporting our teens to read, which is something that every one of us should do. While we tend to see our teens as digital natives, recent research from Deakin University suggests that the average Aussie teen reader would rather flick through…
Now More Than Ever
The one-of-a-kind Indigenous artwork is emblazoned across the shirts for the First IV Tennis team, jerseys for the First XI Football team and First XV Rugby team and First V Basketball team's singlets. National Reconciliation Week is a significant date on the calendar for all Australians, running from Monday, 27 May to Monday, 3 June. The incorporation of this Indigenous design in our uniforms is a significant milestone for our School, especially for our 47 Aboriginal and Torres Strait…
