Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World

by Maryanne Wolf

If we as a society want to build learning environments that promote a biliterate brain, we have to step up to the plate and deal with three large issues. First, from my perspective as a scientist, we need to invest in a great deal more research about the cognitive impacts of both print and digital mediums on all our children, particularly those with reading challenges, whether environmental or biological in origin. Second, from my perspective as an educator, we need to invest in more comprehensive professional training. Most teachers (a full 82 percent)20 have never been given training in the best uses of technology for children from kindergarten to grade four, much less how to teach good online reading skills to different kinds of learners. Third, from my perspective as a citizen, we must confront the access gaps that exist in our society and the world and work to eliminate them.