Children in the cloud: Literacy groupware and the practice of reading

Authors

  • Eric M. Meyers University of British Columbia
  • Lisa P. Nathan University of British Columbia
  • Casey Stepaniuk University of British Columbia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v22i2.6844

Keywords:

literacy, e-reading, literacy groupware, digital media, children and youth, practice theory

Abstract

Through this paper we examine children’s literacy groupware, cloud-based reading management systems that combine digital reading collections with behaviour tracking and analysis, communication tools, and reader incentives. Children’s literacy groupware extends the notion of a digital library for children by providing value-added tools for teaching, monitoring, evaluating and encouraging young readers. We offer an analysis of two for-profit app-based systems that provide reading content and instruction for elementary age children in the United States and Canada. We question the influence of these systems on the practice of reading. How do systems for managing engagement with digital texts frame reading practice: the what, where, when and how of reading, including behaviours, attitudes and dispositions toward the practice itself?

Author Biographies

Eric M. Meyers, University of British Columbia

Associate Professor and Chair, Master of Arts in Children's Literature Program

School of Library, Archival and Information Studies

Lisa P. Nathan, University of British Columbia

Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the First Nations Curriculum Concentration

School of Library, Archival and Information Studies.

Casey Stepaniuk, University of British Columbia

Master's student in Library and Information Studies

School of Library, Archival and Information Studies.

Downloads

Published

2017-01-11

How to Cite

Meyers, E. M., Nathan, L. P., & Stepaniuk, C. (2017). Children in the cloud: Literacy groupware and the practice of reading. First Monday, 22(2). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v22i2.6844