Mission Hills currently finds itself in the midst of a change, technology and culture are evolving alongside each other to make a distinctly unique form of entertainment. Between analog and technologic means of entertainment, new steps must be taken to capture the attention of newer generations.
“What we found is if you want to read a book, a lot of our students still gravitate towards the print. . . it’s all about accessibility. What can we offer? The widest range of possibilities that our students can pick and choose how to consume that media in ways that make sense to them,” Mission Hills Librarian Lora Diaz reveals.
It’s been long understood that physical books are losing relevance in the face of technology, however in reality, the situation is not so cut and dry. Mission Hills aims to improve student engagement with books by incorporating technology. Ms. Diaz and the MHHS library offer a wide selection of ebooks and audiobooks, thanks to their partnership with the San Diego County Library. Students only need to download an app called “Sora” and sign-in using their chromebook login in order to access these online reading options. This allows younger readers to fully explore the world of literature without needing to rely on analog books. For example, students with attention deficits can utilize audiobooks in order to better focus on the story. However there are benefits to reading paper-backs in the long run.
“Research suggests that comprehension is six to eight times better with physical books than e-readers,” therapist Heather Artushin writes on Psychology Today.
While entertainment progresses, accessibility wrestles with the consequences of evolution. Students may be able to connect with stories better due to a wide selection of entertainment mediums, such as audiobooks or e-books, but the academic benefits are lost. Even according to Ms. Diaz, some teachers oppose the transition to online textbooks. Students can better focus on physical books because it’s tactile and forces readers to ignore the outside world in exchange for a written one. Online methods of entertainment however, can distract its users with unrelated stimuli such as text messages and phone calls. Even the blue light of screens have proven harmful to human functioning, keeping people awake when their body needs rest. Incoming readers must balance the convenience and accessibility of technological reading, with the benefits of analog reading.
Everyone has unique circumstances and preferences that pull them toward one medium or another. Regardless of circumstance or preferences, entertainment is growing to accommodate readers of all kinds. Younger readers may even enjoy the old-fashioned way of immersing themselves in a story.
“ I grew up reading. . . I like to ship the characters. . . Online books make my head hurt and although they are more convenient, it’s lacking that Je ne sais quoi of realness that comes with a real book,” senior, and bookworm, Kylie Schultz explains.