Complementarity of Reading from Paper and Screen in the Development of Critical Thinking Skills for 21st-century Literacy

Abstract

The skill of reading undergoes dramatic changes due to the change of reading interface readers are exposed to. Readers who want to be active participants of knowledge society need to perceive it as more than just a receptive skill. The study aims to assess the condition of homo legens, diagnose what kind of reading interface preferences characterize 21st-century readers, how they respond to texts considering reading both digitally and in print, accepting or viewing critically the underlying ideology of the text. The analysis of the collected data attempts to determine if the reported preferences are conducive to the development of critical thinking skills for 21st century literacy, which include understanding complex ideas, evaluating evidence, weighing alternative perspectives and constructing justifiable arguments.