A study looking at the usage of e-books and print books was done by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center over the Summer and Fall of 2011. While the study showed no difference in a child’s comprehension it did show that kids prefer digital books to print books.
If we can encourage kids to engage in books through an iPad, that’s a win already, said Carly Shuler, senior consultant for industry studies at the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop is a New York based non-profit organization dedicated to understanding how children learn through digital media.
Enhanced e-books those that have more bells and whistles than e-books, like interactive features and games were also compared in the study with their regular e-book counterparts. Children recalled fewer of the details of the content of enhanced e-books versus the same e-book.
Kids were more focused on tapping things and that took away from their comprehension as well as the interaction between the parent and the child, said Shuler.
USA Today reported that e-books sales have doubled since last year making up 20% of the market in 2011. The week after the holidays, 42 of the top 50 books on the USA Today Bestsellers list were purchased primarily in digital form. What does this mean for the printed book?
As more generations become used to e-books and digital print, will traditional books be put aside? I hope not. As a teacher I frequently use my iPad in the class with my students. They love digital books but they also love going to the library and picking books out. There is something wonderful about walking into a store and seeing the beautiful covers displayed and having someone knowledgeable talk to you about books. Let’s face it, no matter what formula they use to recommend you books an e-reader can not compare to talking to person who has read the book and understands someone’s interests.
Do you think traditional publishing and books are in danger of becoming extinct? How do you like to read books?