Reading changes in the digital age: An action plan to improve college students’ reading ability based on historical trajectory
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You Wang
[1]
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[1] Trinity University of Asia
Trinity University of Asia
Quezon City, Filipinas
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- Localización: Espacio, Tiempo y Educación, ISSN-e 2340-7263, Vol. 12, Nº. 2, 2025, págs. 74-96
- Idioma: inglés
- Enlaces
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Resumen
This paper investigates how the digital age has reshaped college students’ reading habits and abilities over time and proposes an action plan to enhance their reading proficiency. Adopting a narrative literature review and historical analysis, the study synthesizes findings from existing research published mainly from 2000–2024 and recent studies on digital reading behaviours. College students’ reading engagement has steadily declined in recent decades as digital media consumption surged, leading to shallow reading practices and reduced comprehension. Many students now bypass traditional readings in favour of summaries, videos, or AI tools, indicating an urgent need to re-establish deep reading skills. Nevertheless, evidence suggests that print-based reading fosters stronger comprehension and critical thinking than on-screen reading. The proposed action plan recommends integrating deliberate reading skill development into curricula, balancing digital and print reading tasks, and creating supportive environments that encourage sustained, focused reading. By learning from the historical trajectory of reading habits, educators and policymakers can implement strategies to rebuild students’ deep reading abilities for academic success and informed citizenship.
