Text Messaging and Literacy – The Evidence

by Clare Wood, Nenagh Kemp, Beverly Plester

"Well thought out and timely. This is the leading group in the world working on texting and literacy, and they have a strong track record of publications. It would also be the first book, as they say, to deal with the subject at an academic level. The focus on education is important, as this is where most of the anxieties lie. It will be a major step forward in creating a new climate."
Professor David Crystal, author of The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Language and The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of the English Language, Television consultant and presenter As children are given mobile phones at increasingly younger ages, there is considerable media coverage of claims that mobile phones, and text messaging in particular, are responsible for declining levels of literacy in children and young people. Such claims are often adopted wholesale by teachers and parents, despite the fact that there is an empirical literature which has failed to find a basis to these claims, and to the contrary has found that text messaging is supporting children’s literacy skills. Written by leading international researchers Text Messaging and Literacy presents an overview and discussion of the academic evidence for and against use of text messaging and mobile phones in supporting literate activity and discusses what conclusions we can and should draw about the impact of mobile phones, and their potential role in education. Areas covered In challenging existing assumptions the authors present the cutting edge of international research, highlighting their own studies involving children of all ages, adolescents and adults. This ground breaking book is essential reading for both researchers and students in education, educational psychology, literacy and new media and it’s impact on learning.

Genres: Education

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Ali Rowan]

Not the most engrossing read, but a good overview of the existing empirical data gathered on the subject that (shocker, shocker) contradicts a lot of the stereotypical views about tech-literate kids.