Challenges of Reading on the Internet

According to Donald J. Leu , New Literacies Research Lab, the University of Connecticut, the Internet is this generation's defining technology for literacy (Coiro, Knobel, Lankshear, & Leu, in press;Leu & Kinzer, 2000). in 2002, The Rand Reading Study Group concluded: “… accessing the Internet makes large demands on individuals’ literacy skills; in some cases, this new technology requires readers to have novel literacy skills, and little is known about how to analyze or teach those skills.”

Considering the facts that a billion individuals are currently reading on the Internet, plus researchers' project that within another five years, half of the world's population will be reading online, it is urgent that reading educators seriously address the following questions.

1.) What are the new skills, strategies, and dispositions required for successful reading comprehension and learning on the Internet?
2.) How can we most effectively prepare our youth for these new literacies?

To view powerpoint presentations, etc. go to http://www.newliteracies.uconn.edu/