Reading, social media and learning conversations

Abstract

This article explores the role of social media in reading education in schools. It offers an analysis of literature on how social media are changing reading practices, and makes a case for learning conversations as a necessary condition for progress in reading development and information literacy. The argument is developed that reading development (i.e. improvement in comprehension and performance) may be greatly enhanced through learning conversations, or what is called discussion-based reading; even more so with social media reading (SMR), which is conceived of as reading in electronic forms. Based on an exemplary analysis of how learning conversations about readings in school settings can be done, guidelines are proposed for the use of learning conversations in SMR.