Maryland Reads, a nonprofit focused on improving literacy rates through science of reading initiatives in the state, is raising concerns that digital devices are impeding students' ability to read and to think critically.
In a blog posted Sept. 18, the organization recommends the development of a new framework for reading instruction that takes into consideration the use of technology in teaching and learning and how to navigate challenges related to it. It also advocates for broader conversations about the impact of technology on students' reading and learning development.
"While the impact of the digital era on mental health and academic distractions is well-known, we must also consider how technology affects students’ cognitive capacities," said Trish Brennan-Gac, executive director of Maryland Reads, in a Sept. 19 statement.
Maryland Reads has partnered with the Albert Shanker Institute, a nonprofit research organization, to begin to address technology's influence on reading development. The organizations said habits developed from using digital devices for reading — such as skimming and scanning to understand the volume of information presented on screens — can carry over to print reading, impairing the ability to engage in slower and more reflective reading.
Maryland education officials — like those in many state education agencies across the U.S. — are putting more resources and attention into improving literacy rates through science of reading approaches that emphasize individual sounds in words, and how letters and groups of letters fit together to make words. Other key science of reading components include fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.
The Maryland State Board of Education is crafting a comprehensive K-3 literacy policy that emphasizes instructional equity to spur increased literacy rates. The state also aims to rank in the top 10 states in 4th and 8th grade reading performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress by 2027.
Maryland's average 4th grade reading score on NAEP in 2022 fell below 19 other states and jurisdictions, according to the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics. The average NAEP score in 2022 for the state's 8th graders was lower than those in seven states or jurisdictions.
Carey Wright, who officially started as Maryland's state superintendent in July, has made science of reading a core initiative for the state. Wright is credited with improved literacy rates in Mississippi when she was state superintendent there.
Recently, several states and local districts have put more restrictions on student cellphone and digital device use during the school day. Proponents of limiting screen time say the devices are distracting students from academic work and face-to-face social interactions. They also cite concerns about students' unhealthy social media use. Some parents and disability rights advocates, however, are pushing back on technology restrictions.
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