Comments on: The Digital Critique of “To Read or Not To Read” http://www.dancohen.org/2008/01/10/the-digital-critique-of-to-read-or-not-to-read/ Covering the intersection of digital technology and research, teaching, and learning in the humanities, including search, data mining, website development and design, and programming. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:12:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: The Numbers Guy : Are Americans Really Reading Less? http://www.dancohen.org/2008/01/10/the-digital-critique-of-to-read-or-not-to-read/comment-page-1/#comment-1948 The Numbers Guy : Are Americans Really Reading Less? Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:45:28 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2008/01/10/the-digital-critique-of-to-read-or-not-to-read/#comment-1948 [...] year that combine to overstate the decline in reading skills. Others criticize the NEA for using numbers that omit computer-based reading, and failing to demonstrate that less book reading has dire [...] [...] year that combine to overstate the decline in reading skills. Others criticize the NEA for using numbers that omit computer-based reading, and failing to demonstrate that less book reading has dire [...]

]]> By: JONTILLMAN.COM » Reading Is Dead? http://www.dancohen.org/2008/01/10/the-digital-critique-of-to-read-or-not-to-read/comment-page-1/#comment-1800 JONTILLMAN.COM » Reading Is Dead? Sun, 09 Mar 2008 03:21:10 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2008/01/10/the-digital-critique-of-to-read-or-not-to-read/#comment-1800 [...] things, like blogs and Facebook comments and “missing”Apple manuals now. Literacy is purely functional. Nah, we just need better technology. If blog-scanning is “literacy” then counting to [...] [...] things, like blogs and Facebook comments and “missing”Apple manuals now. Literacy is purely functional. Nah, we just need better technology. If blog-scanning is “literacy” then counting to [...]

]]> By: Dan Cohen’s Digital Humanities Blog » Blog Archive » Digital Campus #21 - To Read or Not To Read http://www.dancohen.org/2008/01/10/the-digital-critique-of-to-read-or-not-to-read/comment-page-1/#comment-1683 Dan Cohen’s Digital Humanities Blog » Blog Archive » Digital Campus #21 - To Read or Not To Read Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:12:33 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2008/01/10/the-digital-critique-of-to-read-or-not-to-read/#comment-1683 [...] lot of headlines and hand-wringing when it was released last month. (Blog subscribers may remember my critique of the report.) We also cover Microsoft’s courtship of Yahoo and what it means (if anything) for campuses, [...] [...] lot of headlines and hand-wringing when it was released last month. (Blog subscribers may remember my critique of the report.) We also cover Microsoft’s courtship of Yahoo and what it means (if anything) for campuses, [...]

]]> By: Kristine http://www.dancohen.org/2008/01/10/the-digital-critique-of-to-read-or-not-to-read/comment-page-1/#comment-1487 Kristine Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:41:39 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2008/01/10/the-digital-critique-of-to-read-or-not-to-read/#comment-1487 It seems like academia looks down on reading online, but I bet the same people who read literature are also reading valuable sites online. The populations aren't mutually exclusive. About the correlation b/w reading and civic engagement, I'd say that online is one of the key places people go to engage in civics, whether it's researching volunteer opportunities or reading political commentary. Reading an article about Obama, then blogging it or forwarding it to friends is how we share ideas in this modern age, and what is reading for but to spread ideas in some form? It seems like academia looks down on reading online, but I bet the same people who read literature are also reading valuable sites online. The populations aren’t mutually exclusive.
About the correlation b/w reading and civic engagement, I’d say that online is one of the key places people go to engage in civics, whether it’s researching volunteer opportunities or reading political commentary. Reading an article about Obama, then blogging it or forwarding it to friends is how we share ideas in this modern age, and what is reading for but to spread ideas in some form?

]]> By: Matt K. http://www.dancohen.org/2008/01/10/the-digital-critique-of-to-read-or-not-to-read/comment-page-1/#comment-1478 Matt K. Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:26:17 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2008/01/10/the-digital-critique-of-to-read-or-not-to-read/#comment-1478 The report does state that it's not positing causal relations between different data and trends. At the same time, it's pretty obvious that its audience--the media especially--is expected to draw just those kind of conclusions. The report does state that it’s not positing causal relations between different data and trends. At the same time, it’s pretty obvious that its audience–the media especially–is expected to draw just those kind of conclusions.

]]> By: Alexis http://www.dancohen.org/2008/01/10/the-digital-critique-of-to-read-or-not-to-read/comment-page-1/#comment-1477 Alexis Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:28:31 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2008/01/10/the-digital-critique-of-to-read-or-not-to-read/#comment-1477 Oops, it didn't include my ellipses (I snipped out two bullet points before the one I included above). Oops, it didn’t include my ellipses (I snipped out two bullet points before the one I included above).

]]> By: Alexis http://www.dancohen.org/2008/01/10/the-digital-critique-of-to-read-or-not-to-read/comment-page-1/#comment-1476 Alexis Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:27:47 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2008/01/10/the-digital-critique-of-to-read-or-not-to-read/#comment-1476 I especially like this quote in the abstract <i>Advanced readers accrue personal, professional, and social advantages. Deficient readers run higher risks of failure in all three areas.</i> <i> * Literary readers are more likely than non-readers to engage in positive civic and individual activities – such as volunteering, attending sports or cultural events, and exercising.</i> <i>"This report shows striking statistical links between reading, advanced reading skills, and other individual and social benefits," said Sunil Iyengar, NEA Director of Research and Analysis. "To Read or Not to Read compels us to consider more carefully how we spend our time, since those choices affect us individually and collectively." </i> I can only assume this to mean the authors and director of NEA Research believe that reading <em>causes</em> civic engagement. I'll have to read the whole thing, but - damn - I'm an ignorant SOB and even I know that correlation does not equal causation. I especially like this quote in the abstract

Advanced readers accrue personal, professional, and social advantages. Deficient readers run higher risks of failure in all three areas.

* Literary readers are more likely than non-readers to engage in positive civic and individual activities – such as volunteering, attending sports or cultural events, and exercising.

“This report shows striking statistical links between reading, advanced reading skills, and other individual and social benefits,” said Sunil Iyengar, NEA Director of Research and Analysis. “To Read or Not to Read compels us to consider more carefully how we spend our time, since those choices affect us individually and collectively.”

I can only assume this to mean the authors and director of NEA Research believe that reading causes civic engagement. I’ll have to read the whole thing, but – damn – I’m an ignorant SOB and even I know that correlation does not equal causation.

]]> By: Dorothea Salo http://www.dancohen.org/2008/01/10/the-digital-critique-of-to-read-or-not-to-read/comment-page-1/#comment-1474 Dorothea Salo Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:57:38 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2008/01/10/the-digital-critique-of-to-read-or-not-to-read/#comment-1474 For my first-day-of-class eye-opener in my tech-in-libraries class, I brought in a translation of good old Trithemius, De laude scriptorum. Same stuff, different day. I've been watching this kind of smear campaign (and bluntly, that's what it IS) for a decade. Nothing's changed about the smear -- and the smear hasn't stopped behavior changes. I'm starting to ignore it, honestly. For my first-day-of-class eye-opener in my tech-in-libraries class, I brought in a translation of good old Trithemius, De laude scriptorum.

Same stuff, different day. I’ve been watching this kind of smear campaign (and bluntly, that’s what it IS) for a decade. Nothing’s changed about the smear — and the smear hasn’t stopped behavior changes. I’m starting to ignore it, honestly.

]]> By: Matt K. http://www.dancohen.org/2008/01/10/the-digital-critique-of-to-read-or-not-to-read/comment-page-1/#comment-1470 Matt K. Thu, 10 Jan 2008 05:40:35 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2008/01/10/the-digital-critique-of-to-read-or-not-to-read/#comment-1470 Nice, balanced post Dan. Unfortunately, some of what's "between the lines" in the official report seeps out in other venues. One of its report's architects, for example, is rather fond of the phrase "digital diversions," which he uses in both personal correspondence and elsewhere: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&client=googlet&q=bauerlein+%22digital+diversions%22&btnG=Search Nice, balanced post Dan.

Unfortunately, some of what’s “between the lines” in the official report seeps out in other venues. One of its report’s architects, for example, is rather fond of the phrase “digital diversions,” which he uses in both personal correspondence and elsewhere:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&client=googlet&q=bauerlein+%22digital+diversions%22&btnG=Search

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