Digital Dilemma Initiative
Addressing the Digital Dilemma: A Maryland READS Initiative
On September 19, 2024, Maryland READS launched the Digital Dilemma Initiative to focus on the growing concerns surrounding the impact of digital devices on students' reading and critical thinking skills. We were pleased to join with The Albert Shanker Institute and Dr. Maryanne Wolf in jumping starting this conversation.
There is a growing body of research that reveals the detrimental effects of digital devices on students’ reading and critical thinking skills. Throughout the elementary years, students are taught to read accurately, fluently, and meaningfully, which requires sustained attention and patience. Teachers say print materials tend to slow students so that they can reflect with increasing levels of depth about what is on the page – what researchers refer to as “deep reading.” But today, students are scrolling, skimming and zig-zagging on screens, which diminishes our brain’s capacity for immersive reading.
“When we're reading print and books, we are more likely to be able to bring the fullness of the reading brain to work on the page. We must be very, very careful and mindful with our young, that the last thing we want to create are skimmers. We want to create deep-reading children.”
— Dr. Maryanne Wolf, one of the world’s leading experts on literacy and the brain
The Solution: Reassessing Technology's Role in Education
Maryland READS was honored to work alongside the Albert Shanker Institute to elevate the growing research about how technology can prevent students from becoming proficient readers, fueling an ongoing public conversation. Our goal is to ensure that technology serves as an aid to, rather than a hindrance to, literacy development. Education and policy leaders are beginning to make the connection between technology and literacy, but we have more work to do.
“As our state continues to roll out its comprehensive plan to end the reading crisis, we must also ask ourselves: What good is investing time and resources into the science of reading if inappropriate features and over-reliance on technology unravel all those gains? If we truly want to fix our reading crisis, we must teach our children to slow down and read.”
— Delegate Jared S. Solomon
A Call to Action: Leading the Way in Maryland and Beyond
Maryland READS is committed to leading this conversation in Maryland and exploring and promoting meaningful solutions that ensure technology is not a barrier to ending the reading crisis in our state. To join our effort, contact: Trish Brennan-Gac at trishbrennangac@marylandreads.org.
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