Screens have transformed education. Lessons can be accessed instantly, textbooks can be carried on a tablet, and information is never more than a few clicks away.
But when it comes to properly understanding and remembering what we read, the latest technology may not always be the best option.
In this insight:
- Students often learn better when reading on paper
- Reading on Paper Removes the Digital Noise
- Paper Can Make Information Easier to Understand
- Switching Off the Internet Does Not Solve Everything
- Printed Materials Encourage Active Learning
- the Simplest Learning Tool Is Still the Best
Research from the University of Stavanger shows that students often learn better when reading on paper. Fred Arne Kjørkleiv’s findings indicate that printed learning materials can help improve concentration, reading comprehension and engagement, especially for students who already find reading challenging.
So, could something as simple as putting the textbook back on the desk make a genuine difference?
Reading on Paper Removes the Digital Noise
Reading from a screen rarely happens in complete isolation.
Even when students are not actively receiving messages, digital devices are associated with notifications, videos, social media, games and countless other distractions. There is a constant temptation to click on the pop-ups and flashing buttons.
Printed paper offers something different: a fixed page with one clear purpose.
There are no tabs to open or alerts appearing at the top of the page. Students can focus entirely on the information in front of them, giving their brains more opportunity to absorb and process it.
This can make printed educational materials particularly useful for:
- Longer or more detailed pieces of text
- Revision notes and examination preparation
- Subject-specific or technical information
- Students who struggle with reading comprehension
- Classroom activities that require discussion and reflection
Paper Can Make Information Easier to Understand
Reading is not simply about recognising words. Students must connect ideas, follow arguments, understand new terminology and remember what they have already read.
Research from the University of Stavanger suggests that reading digitally can place additional demands on the brain. Scrolling, navigating pages and deciding where to click may seem like small actions, but they still compete for attention.
Confident readers may not notice these extra demands, but for students who already need to work harder to process written information, they can make it more difficult to understand and remember the subject.
A printed page offers a clearer, more settled reading experience. Students can easily see where information appears, move back and forth through the text and gain a stronger sense of progress as they work through the material.
Switching Off the Internet Does Not Solve Everything
It would be easy to assume that online distractions are the only issue. Remove the internet connection and digital reading should become just as effective as paper.
Research suggests students may still understand printed text better, even when internet access and notifications have been removed.
The screen itself may influence how people read. We often use screens to:
- Scan headlines quickly
- Check messages
- Jump between different pieces of content
- Scroll rather than read in depth
- Move on before fully absorbing the information
Paper creates a different experience. It naturally encourages readers to slow down, pause, revisit key points and spend more time with the text.
Printed Materials Encourage Active Learning
This is not about removing technology from education.
Digital tools can provide:
- Quick access to information
- Interactive learning activities
- Educational videos
- Online assessments
- Easier collaboration between students
- Greater flexibility and accessibility
The real question is not whether schools should choose paper or screens, it’s about choosing the right format for the task.
Screens can work well for research, collaboration and interactive learning. Paper may be the better option when students need to:
- Concentrate for longer
- Understand complex information
- Read in greater depth
- Make notes and highlight key points
- Remember what they have learned
Both formats have value. The key is knowing when each one is most effective.
Sometimes the Simplest Learning Tool Is Still the Best
Education continues to embrace new technology, but progress does not always mean replacing everything that came before it.
Printed paper remains a powerful learning resource. It is familiar, focused and free from digital distractions. More importantly, it can help students engage more deeply with the information in front of them.
In a classroom filled with screens, the tool that helps students learn better may be the one we have been using all along.
*source: TwoSides – research and information relating to print, paper and reading.