<p>"Critics of reading on the Internet say they see no evidence that increased Web activity improves reading achievement. “What we are losing in this country and presumably around the world is the sustained, focused, linear attention developed by reading,” said Mr. Gioia of the N.E.A. “I would believe people who tell me that the Internet develops reading if I did not see such a universal decline in reading ability and reading comprehension on virtually all tests.”</p>
<p>Nicholas Carr sounded a similar note in “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” in the current issue of the Atlantic magazine. Warning that the Web was changing the way he — and others — think, he suggested that the effects of Internet reading extended beyond the falling test scores of adolescence. “What the Net seems to be doing is chipping away my capacity for concentration and contemplation,” he wrote, confessing that he now found it difficult to read long books.</p>
<p>Literacy specialists are just beginning to investigate how reading on the Internet affects reading skills. A recent study of more than 700 low-income, mostly Hispanic and black sixth through 10th graders in Detroit found that those students read more on the Web than in any other medium, though they also read books. "</p>
<p>I buy Kindle novels for entertainment reading. I also read ACM journal articles - I take the PDFs and email them so that they show up on my mobile devices. There are some science books that I’d like to read but I’ve been spoiled by the convenience of mobile devices and don’t feel like spending an extra $100 for a textbook that I already have.</p>
<p>The internet can provide a lot more. But it can also provide a lot less too. It’s all in how you use it.</p>
<p>Hell, I’m happy that these kids are READING period. IDGAF where it’s from. I have a few close friends who are teachers in Detroit and they’d be thrilled to hear this news.</p>
<p>I agree, at least they are reading. From our limited sample, our oldest son detested reading, HATED it. He never willingly picked up a book until he was in 7th grade. In 4th grade we had him tested for learning disabilities–he tested out as a junior in college reading level–how, no idea. He did read comic books and cheat books for his Gameboy though. His 7th grade English teacher turned him on to book and he has been an avid reader ever since—to the point his 11th grade English teacher told him to stop reading so much…because he was reading novels in class instead of doing his work in class…</p>
<p>As for the study…one thing that stood out was the drop in the number of kids that read for fun…well, I know our kids did a lot more reading for fun before they started high school. Now, they just don’t have the time. They read for fun in the summer but during the school year by the time they are done with school, done with their various activities/sports, done with homework, they just need to do mindless things to regenerate. I’m ok with that. They do plenty of reading otherwise.</p>
<p>I HATED reading as a kid. Now I read at least a book every couple days depending on the size of the book.</p>
<p>Books, on a whole, just don’t interest me all that much. Every once in a while I’ll find something that I absolutely love (I can’t count the number of times I’ve read Harry Potter in the last decade), but other than that it’s hard to hold my attention. </p>
<p>OTOH, I’ll read scholarly articles, wiki sites, and bilingual news sites like nobody’s business. </p>
<p>I think the web has its place and can be transformed into a great teaching tool if people would just stop fighting it.</p>
<p>Excellent book. I’m a huge reader and read both bound books and e-books as well as just about anything else. Over the years I’ve found that I do have a harder time focusing for sustained periods of time on a book.</p>
<p>I think you have to differentiate between reading books and novels on an e-reader vs. reading web pages about crap such as anything Kardashian-related.</p>
<p>Kinda relates to the death of newspapers, as they are replaced by things like yahoo! home pages, etc.</p>
<p>As relates to newspapers, I read less national news in newspapers, as the internet has these stories much faster, but still need our local paper for news related to hometown and town where I work.</p>
<p>I’m hooked on audiobooks. I find the experience much more satisfying than just reading. My imagination is really engaged and I find that I visualize the settings and characters in much greater detail.</p>