Technology versus paper : a study on children’s reading using traditional books and the tablet PC

Abstract

We now live in an age often referred to as the electronic age, which is essentially the result of the proliferation and integration of technology in every aspect of life. The education system is no exception. Since the introduction of personal computers and other media, technology has become an important tool in the hands of educators and students alike. At this point in time in Malta we are facing the imminent introduction of Tablet PCs in primary schools. These Tablet PCs aim to revolutionize the education system by offering a modern and supposedly more efficient medium over the traditional printed book. Since this dissertation is conducted from a linguistic point of view it aims to explore the implications these new devices have on reading. It aims to identify whether the Tablet PC offers important advantages in terms of reading and understanding over the printed book or whether the traditional codex is still the best option even in the electronic age. Existing literature in relation to electronic text and the use of eBooks and Tablet PCs is analyzed to explore both the effect of this new medium in relation to the traditional eBook and its effect on reading and comprehension. The quantitative study conducted in order to obtain a close first hand investigation of the participants' interaction with both the eBook on the Tablet PC and the traditional printed book showed that essentially in terms of reading speed and comprehension there is a very slight difference between the two media. However in both cases participants using the printed book did better. In terms of the qualitative part of the study the participants who used the Tablet PC were enthusiastic and willing to use this medium for reading, while the majority of those who used the printed book explained that they still preferred it over its digital counterpart.