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COSTINF-COST Infrastruktur

COST Action IS1404 E-READ final conference

Alternative title: Books and apps: evaluating e-books for use in dialogue-based reading in kindergarten

Awarded: NOK 0.10 mill.

How does digitisation change the ways we read? What do we currently know about the differences between reading on paper and reading on screens? The current wholesale adoption of digital screens - in educational as well as leisure settings - is profoundly affecting our Reading habits. Since November 2014, researchers from a wide variety of disciplines all over Europe have come together, in the framework of the COST Action E-READ, to pursue such questions and to begin mapping the effects of digitisation on reading. On October 3rd and 4th 2018, they met at The University of Stavanger for a showcase conference to present some of the findings and to discuss implications of digitisation for stakeholders such as the educational field, policy makers, and publishers. Invited speaker at the conference was Maryanne Wolf, internationally renowned researcher and author of Proust and the Squid: the story and science of the Reading brain and, recently published, Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World.

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COST Action IS1404 E-READ (http://ereadcost.eu/), was funded in 2014 to understand the effects and impact of digitization on reading and literacy. It comprises more than 200 scholars and scientists from 33 countries and a wide range of disciplines (book history, media studies, literary studies, anthropology, linguistics, psychology, pedagogy, educational sciences, neuroscience, computer science), who are engaged in empirical, interdisciplinary research on the effects of the transition from paper to screens on reading at individual (cognitive, emotional, psychological) and societal (cultural) levels. E-READ has produced a wide range of tangible outcomes, including scientific publications, media appearances, invited keynote addresses, guest lectures and presentations at influential venues such as the Frankfurt Book Fair. At the conference in Stavanger, we will showcase some of these findings and outputs to a wide audience, including representatives from the European Commission, the Norwegian Research Council, policy makers at national and European level, teachers, publishers, and content developers. Day 1 (open to the public) features a keynote address by Dr. Maryanne Wolf, an internationally leading reading scholar and scientist. In addition, there will be pitch sessions in which core E-READ members (Chair, Vice-Chair, Working Group Leaders) present summaries of findings emerging from four years of networking and collaboration in E-READ. Invited representatives from key stakeholders (e.g., policy makers, practitioners, publishers) will moderate the pitch session and provide comments. Day 2 is open for members of E-READ only, and will consist of (i) a panel with Chairs and Vice-Chairs of three COST Actions on literacy, IS1401 European Literacy Network and IS1410 DigiLitEY in addition to E-READ (ii) presentations of WG outcomes with input from international experts and members of the SAB,and from key stakeholders (iii) Final E-READ MC meeting and WG meetings

Funding scheme:

COSTINF-COST Infrastruktur