Educators and caregiver prepare for school to resume full force, evidence underscores a cautionary note for both teachers and parents alike; screen-based reading may hamper learning and comprehension more than they help. Technology has hits role in the educational process, but we can’t forget that print is an accessible, distraction-free anchor for learning, especially when digital fatigue is real and cognitive overload is common.
Print Impacts Comprehension students
Oxford Learning shared a meta-analysis of forty-nine studies that concluded that students who read on paper consistently scored higher on comprehension tests than those reading the same material digitally. Researchers have begun calling this the “screen inferiority effect,” a phenomenon which refers to people’s tendency to comprehend and retain less information when reading on screens as compared to reading on paper. Several factors contribute to this issue, including cognitive overload due to the many options devices offer that interrupt focused, skimming, a habit developed due to the fast-paced nature of social media, and a lack of mental mapping. While teachers can emphasize close-reading and attempt to limit the amount of distractions that digital readers provide, mental mapping is difficult to replicate and a crucial component of memory and informational recall. Unlike eReaders, print offers spatial and tactile cues—turning pages, tracing your finger as you read, the weight of the book—which help anchor memory. These cues reduce the tendency to skim and support immersion, which leads to deeper learning.
A large-scale analysis by the University of Valencia found that long-term print reading can boost comprehension skills six to eight times more than digital reading. Elementary-level insights echo this, noting how screen fatigue, distractions, and multitasking hinder comprehension and how print supports engagement, attention, and retention. Even children aged 10–12 comprehend better on paper than screens, thanks to more profound cognitive processing when reading printed text. Digital tools may shine for interactivity, scalability, and immediate feedback, but when the goal is deep, critical learning, print holds a distinct edge.
Print Helps Students Maximize Their Time
Reading in print correlates strongly with better comprehension skills across the lifespan, but many of us spend less than an hour reading per day.
Avg. daily time spent reading in the United States from 2014 – 2023 (In hours)
Students have to take advantage of the little time they do spend reading school materials and maximize their results. Ultimately, the key lies in a balanced approach. Print isn’t just a tool, it’s a reliable partner in learning. By blending print with digital, we give students the best of both worlds—let’s help them turn pages and thoughts, both. Regardless of digital availability, print is always accessible.
Visit Domtar.com for more information on quality copy papers.
