reading, writing, and research in the digital age
DESCRIPTION
Kathryn Zickuhr will discuss reading, writing, and research in the digital age at the edUi 2013 plenary talk.TRANSCRIPT
Reading, writing, and research in the digital age
Kathryn Zickuhr
Research Associate
November 4, 2013
edUi 2013
@kzickuhr | @pewinternet | @pewresearch
November 4, 2013 2 www.pewinternet.org
About the Pew Research Center
• Non-partisan “fact tank” in Washington, DC, made up of seven projects
• Does not promote specific technologies or make policy recommendations
More: pewresearch.org
@pewresearch
@pewinternet
The Internet: A brief history
November 4, 2013 3 www.pewinternet.org
% of adults ages 18+ who go online, 1995-present
Internet use over time
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
50% (2000)
14% (1995)
85%(2013)
November 4, 2013 4 www.pewinternet.org
80 87
68
49
29
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
12-17 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
72% of online adults (and 80% of online teens) use social network sites
November 4, 2013 5 www.pewinternet.org
The rise of mobile
Cell phones:
• 91% of adults (78% of teens)
Smartphones:
• 56% of adults (37% of teens)
Tablets:
• 34% of adults (23% of teens)
November 4, 2013 6 www.pewinternet.org
Mobile is the needle; social is the thread How information is woven into our lives
Mobile technology… Social network sites…
Always with us Surround us with information through our many connections
Makes information accessible anytime and anywhere
Connect us to strong & weak ties
Puts information & connections at our fingertips
Provide instant feedback, meaning, and context
Magnifies the demand for timely information (on-demand) Allow us to shape and create
information ourselves and amplify others’ messages Makes information location-
sensitive
November 4, 2013 7 www.pewinternet.org
How Americans find and share news and information in the digital age
November 4, 2013 8 www.pewinternet.org
November 4, 2013 9 State of the News Media 2013 stateofthemedia.org
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
1991 1994 1997 2000 2003 2006 2009 2012
TV
Radio
Newspaper
Online
Any Digital News
50% say internet is a main source for news
Digital grows as a source for news % of respondents who got news “yesterday” from each platform
News and information
50% of American adults cite the internet as a main
source for national and international news
• 71% of adults under 30 say the internet is a main news source (vs 55% who cite television)
23% of adults get news on at least two mobile devices
• Info-snacking and just-in-time information
Social media, while an increasing part of the digital news
experience, is not often a main source of news (though it’s
more of a source if you’re mobile)
November 4, 2013 10 pewinternet.org / journalism.org
More: stateofthemedia.org
News and information
November 4, 2013 11 pewinternet.org / journalism.org
“Does anyone still read books?”
94% 91%
85% 90% 91%
28% 31%
41%
23% 20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
16-17 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
Print E-books
Among readers, the % in each age group who read a book in print or an e-book in the past year (2012)
Book reading by age group
November 4, 2013 13 libraries.pewinternet.org
Which is better for these purposes, a printed book or an e-book?
Among those 16+ who read both a print book & an e-book in the past year (2011)
81%
69%
43%
35%
19% 13% 9%
25%
45%
53%
73%
83%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Reading witha child
Sharing withothers
Reading inbed
Having awide
selection
Readingwhile
traveling
Get booksquickly
Print E-books
November 4, 2013 14 libraries.pewinternet.org
E-books beyond e-readers
Among people who read e-books, the % in each age group who read their e-books on the following devices (2011)
November 4, 2013 15 libraries.pewinternet.org
41%
55%
23%
16%
25%
38%
46%
26%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Cell phone Desktop or laptop E-reader Tablet
16-29 30+
What do these changes mean for educational and cultural institutions?
November 4, 2013 16 www.pewinternet.org
How Americans use libraries
56% of Americans 16+ used a library in the past year
• 53% visited in person
• 25% used website
Books, browsing, librarians are still central, both in how
people use libraries and in their conception of libraries
…but technology is also a common use and a high priority
More: libraries.pewinternet.org
November 4, 2013 17 libraries.pewinternet.org
Public priorities for libraries
49
63
67
73
74
76
77
80
80
36
30
22
20
21
19
18
15
16
0 20 40 60 80 100
Free public meeting spaces
Free events/activities
Job/career resources
Research resources like databases
Programs & classes for children, teens
Quiet study spaces
Free access to computers/internet
Borrowing books
Librarians to help find info
Very important Somewhat important
November 4, 2013 18 libraries.pewinternet.org
Should libraries…
20
41
42
43
47
53
59
61
82
85
39
36
34
39
38
30
28
27
14
11
36
20
19
14
12
5
9
9
3
2
0 20 40 60 80 100
Move stacks out of public locations
Make MOST services automated
Move MOST library services online
Help users digitize own materials
More interactive learning experiences
Offer more e-books
Have more comfortable spaces
Separate spaces for different services
Free literacy programs
Coordinate more with schools
Should definitely do Should maybe do Should definitely not do
23
26
26
28
29
33
34
35
35
37
28
32
32
29
35
30
28
34
28
36
48
40
39
41
34
35
36
29
35
26
0 20 40 60 80 100
Classes on e-readers
Digital media lab
Pre-loaded e-readers
Classes on borrowing e-books
Personalized accounts
Library kiosks in community
Cell GPS app
Tech try-out program
Library app
"Ask a librarian" online service
Very likely Somewhat likely Not too likely or not at all likely
How likely would you be to use…
Among the 25% of Americans who used a library website in the past year:
• 82% searched the library catalog for a book, DVD, CD
• 72% got basic library info (hours, location, etc.)
• 62% reserved a book, DVD, CD (and 51% renewed)
• 51% used an online database.
• 48% looked for info about library programs & events.
• 30% read book reviews / got book recommendations.
• 30% checked whether they owed fines / paid fines online.
• 27% signed up for library programs & events.
• 22% borrowed or downloaded an e-book.
• 6% reserved a meeting room.
November 4, 2013 21 www.pewinternet.org
Research and writing in the digital age
The good, bad, and Google
“The internet makes doing research easier—easier to
do well and easier to do poorly.”
• Difficulties switching between informal and formal tone
• . . . but also more opportunities for students to write, particularly for
an audience
• More information can be very useful (but also overwhelming)
• Requires more sophisticated research skills from students to refine
and sift through search results
• Who can/should teach digital research skills? And how?
November 4, 2013 22 www.pewinternet.org
So how do students conduct research in the age of Google and Wikipedia?
November 4, 2013 23 www.pewinternet.org
The sources students are “very likely” to use in a typical research assignment*:
• Google / search engine (94%)
• Wikipedia (75%)
• YouTube / social media (52%)
• Their peers (42%)
• Spark Notes, Cliff Notes (41%)
• News sites of major news organizations (25%)
• Print or electronic textbooks (18%)
• Online databases such as EBSCO, JSTOR (17%)
• A research librarian at school or public library (16%)
• Printed books other than textbooks (12%)
• Student-oriented search engines like Sweet Search (10%)
* According to middle and high school AP & NWP teachers
Now what?
Fewer traditional touchpoints
• E-books and online services
• Search engines for “short answer” questions (LMGTFY)
• Awareness of services
November 4, 2013 25 www.pewinternet.org
Opportunity
exists between
keyboard and chair
November 4, 2013 26 www.pewinternet.org
Now what?
Fewer traditional touchpoints
• E-books and online services
• Search engines for “short answer” questions (LMGTFY)
• Awareness of services
Convenience and connection
• Social media, email, apps, websites
• Personalized services, recommendations
• “Digital literacy” beyond the classroom
November 4, 2013 27 www.pewinternet.org
Thank you!
Kathryn Zickuhr Research Associate
Pew Research Center pewresearch.org
pewresearch.org/internet
November 4, 2013
edUi 2013
@kzickuhr | @pewinternet | @pewresearch