Reading in the Digital Age!

   One of the most fundamental aims and objectives in libraries, is to foster the enjoyment of reading by encouraging users to reach their full potential as independent learners and develop a positive attitude to lifelong learning. Specially in school libraries. The School Library Association (2016) believes the purpose of a school library is to to have a vibrant role in the development of a culture that promotes wider reading, motivated readers and learners for life, to provide a place for collaborative learning, creativity, and for developing independent research and information literacy skills.

 

The question is, how can we do that in the digital age?

 

 

I believe that information specialist and librarians should become the leaders in digital literacy and learning  techlogies. However, how can we accomplish that? Today technology is affecting and reshaping every aspect of our live. Of course there are pros and cons to the issue, but I believe we can use it in our advantage in many ways. One good way is by using Books That Grow.

 

Books That Grow, was founded by Daniel Fountenberry, a former teacher, and Jason Buhle, a cognitive neuroscientist. It is an online educational platform that offers digital books that adapt to readers’ abilities. Books That Grow is a digital reading platform with a library of books. The best part about Books to Grow is that every book can be read at 3-5 different levels of text complexity. So it would allow users in all levels to read the book and understand it according to their learning levels and learning potentials. For instance, in school libraries, teachers and librarians can differentiate instruction by allowing them to assign the same reading to a class of mixed ability students, while permitting these students to learn at their own level, and make steady gains in their reading skills. Teachers can also create classrooms in the app, monitor the books their students read, and adjust their set reading levels by book or by student (Kickstarter, 2016). This video illustrates more about it.

 

 

Reference list:

Kickstarter (2016) Books that grow. Available at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/407623915/books-that-grow (Accessed: 13 November 2016).

School Library Association (2016) The purpose of a school library. Available at: http://www.sla.org.uk/purpose-of-school-library.php (Accessed: 13 November 2016).

Image: http://www.2luxury2.com/publishing-innovation-awards-most-innovative-e-books-enhanced-books-and-book-apps-of-the-year/