In the light of distance learning during the pandemic and the move towards digital media in education, there is probably not enough of discussion on how reading printed vs. electronic books is impacting learning, the joy of reading, and, consequently, students’ grades.

Already known might be the Stavanger Declaration, issued in 2019 by more than 130 scientists on the future of reading. It subsumes findings from several research projects which, given all differences among readers and conditions, demonstrate better understanding and reduced loss of concentration when reading in print.

Now this has been reinforced by more recent research. The OECD, in sifting through the 2018 PISA study results on school performance, published their “21st-Century Readers” report in 2021 with some interesting findings. The full study (216 pages) can be found here.