Research of the connection between Reading and Digital literacy

In 2018 144 parents from different Bulgarian towns were interviewed as part of the project Digital Competencies and Media Education at Pre-school and Primary School Age (DN 05/8 14.12.2016) with coordinator Prof. Dr RumyanaPapancheva. In the research the Europass’ Self-Assessment Grid for Digital competence was used and parents should do self-assessment of their abilities for Information processing; Content creation; Communication; Problem solving and Safety. The survey describes children’s habits of digital technology usage – how many hours per day they use smartphones or other devices; what kinds of activities (playing games, reading e-books, watching YouTube, studying) children carry out with digital technologies, etc. The article also presents the demographic profile of respondents and some interconnections found between the parents’ profiles and the children’s attitudes towards the usage of digital technologies.

"Children’s digital experiences at home shape the development of digital literacy. When using technology the emphasis is placed on lifelong learning and not on teaching, the training is connected with creative thinking." Over 50% of respondents agreed with the statement that there is a connection between reading literacy (traditional) and forming of digital one. Every fourth respondent declared that they use digital technologies together with their children, because it's a good way to spend time together, every second - “to make sure that the child does not use inappropriate content for their age”; and almost 40 % – to clarify the concepts and to help their children. Every third responded negatively to the question „Do you approve early digital literacy training in school?" The other 2/3 however support the idea that children should be trained in digital literacy since primary school. "The analysis of responses shows that some parents do not understand the importance of digital literacy." 56% of the parents said that they are worried about the use of digital devices by their children because not only does it impair their kids’ vision but the child becomes obsessed with technology, lazy and does not want to read books because of immobilization.