Students prefer paper over digital

by John Watson

There’s a fairly common story told by ed tech advocates that goes something like this: students, being young and comfortable with technology, and on their smart phones and other devices for hours on end, prefer reading digital course materials instead of print. This line of argument is often used as among the reasons to switch to digital.

The only problem is, it isn’t true. At the very least, the situation is much more nuanced. Some students may prefer to read on digital devices, but plenty of others seem to prefer paper.

Most of the studies come from post-secondary education, where students have more choice about their materials than students in K-12 schools have. This infographic from the National Association of College Stores shows that students are buying more print than digital. That is suggestive but doesn’t definitively demonstrate preferences, because print materials may be required or available more than digital. But surveys show similar findings, as summarized in this post’s opening paragraph: “Emerging research seems to indicate that all readers, regardless of age, tend to prefer text to online reading sources.” In addition, some studies suggest that it’s not just a matter of preference, but that, as one study puts it, “if you are reading something lengthy – more than 500 words or more than a page of the book or screen – your comprehension will likely take a hit if you’re using a digital device.”

Are these findings a compelling argument against digital learning? The answer is mostly no, but with a major caveat.

First, online and blended schools and courses often use print materials along with online materials. The fact that a school or course is online doesn’t preclude the use of print.

Second, the very large majority of online and blended schools and courses are available to students to opt into, but are not required. Students who don’t want to attend an online or blended school don’t have to, and students with a strong preference for reading on paper may find an online school isn’t a good fit.

The caveat is that schools and districts implementing or contemplating large-scale shifts to digital in neighborhood schools have to take into account this issue of student reading preferences and comprehension. They may need to continue to offer some paper books and materials. At the very least, they should be thoughtful about the likelihood that some students won’t like the switch.