Upgrading to 21st Century Reading: E-Reading IntegrationM. Hiddas; Moulay Ismail University, ENS-Meknes

MoRCE-Net 4th Annual Conference

1. Hardware

1.1. Any digital displaying device:

1.2. E-readers: mobile electronic devices that are designed specially for reading digital texts: e-books thanks to special screen and battery.

, etc.

E-readingDigital onscreen reading

2. Software

2.1. E-reader’s built-in display and utility applications, using e-paper technology and more recently e-ink screen.

- Anti-light reflection (in combination with screen hardware) - Brightness adjustment according to ambient light - Last page and line location (can be customized on re-opening e-book) - Text-to-speech, to listen to book being read out for user - Font style, size and colour - Background texture and colour - Personal annotation and highlights (with and/or without stylus) - New e-books download, import and copy - E-books deletion and replacement - “Go-to” options (search and find utilities) - Reading progress line (% read, % left to read, timing, etc.) - More importantly, dictionaries with thesauruses and translators

2.2. Adaptable/extrinsic software apps: more or less similar to e-readers’ built-in software.

Best adaptive devices: tablets, large-screen smartphones and hybrid laptops (two-in-one, PC & tablet devices), particularly those running under Android.

Closer view

What does research say about e-reading?

• E. Wästlund (2007) 72 volunteers completed the Higher Education Entrance Examination READ test — a

30-minute, Swedish-language reading-comprehension exam consisting of multiple-choice questions about five texts averaging 1,000 words each. People who took the test on a computer scored lower and reported higher levels of stress and tiredness than people who completed it on paper.

• M. Wu & S. Chen (2011) While they appreciated the convenience of using e books‐ , students mentioned several

limitations. They liked the keyword search function of e books‐ . Most of the time, graduate students browsed a few paragraphs or pages online and then printed out copies for further reading. They also borrowed the corresponding paper versions of the e books from the library. Students preferred that university libraries supply ‐ both the electronic and paper versions. In certain aspects, students' use behaviour was found to vary among disciplines.

• T. L. Benevides (2013) “the built-in features of tablet technology allowed inquisitive students to actively

solve problems and research unknown words and concepts themselves—an advantage of tablet reading which increased motivation and understanding among the study’s participants. [… Those] who did not enjoy reading books before the study began, later expressed their enthusiasm about this new reading experience.”

• Pew Research Center poll (2013) Digital devices give a big boost to book reading. Technology is changing the way

Americans read, and those under 40 are leading the way. In an age of countless digital distractions, a significant number of Americans report they are reading more books thanks to their e-readers and tablets. […]Since getting their devices, 35% report reading more books. That includes 41% who own e-readers and 29% who own tablets, which offer not just books, but movies, TV shows and more.

• Pew Research Centre (2014)

• GreenPoint Global (2015)

Ebook readership among children is growing in double digits every month, and children’s ebook revenues skyrocketed near 500 percent in 2012–13. Ebook naysayers believe research is not in on whether print books are the best way to teach children to read, or if there are negatives about reading on mobile devices. Research is necessary, but children are setting the trend.

Synthesis

• E-reading is subject to relativity and interactivity, synchronically and diachronically.

• Thanks to most recent digital technology, e-reading has now become highly effective in boosting reading and promoting learning in general.

• It involves a two-way progress: adaptation of technology to humans and adaptation of humans to technology.

• Individually, it best meets personal needs and preferences. It builds higher self-confidence, higher autonomy and higher learning capabilty (self-determined learning).

• Socially, it enhances sharing and reduces social class gaps.

• Economically, it is much more affordable in terms of money, time and effort.

• Practically, it is much easier to find, download and store e-books/e-texts (in comparison to searching for print documents in libraries and bookstores).

• Ecologically, it is brightly green. (Tons of paper saved thousands of trees preserved)

THANK YOU