What is the Future of Reading? The Power of Pleasure

The Office of Education Research (OER), in collaboration with the Designing School Libraries of the Future study team, held an online roundtable titled What is the Future of Reading? The Power of Pleasure.

International research suggest that children and adolescents today read less and enjoy reading less, yet reading for pleasure is associated with reading proficiency, academic achievement, student well-being and lifelong learning. The aim of the roundtable was to explore how pleasure can be a core part of the reading curriculum, and to explore the role of technology in supporting student reading.

Prof Teresa Cremin, Professor of Education (Literacy) from the Open University, UK, started the session by sharing about the Reading for Pleasure pedagogy framework and its policy and practical impact in the United Kingdom. Assoc Prof Loh Chin Ee, Deputy Head (Research) from NIE’s English Language and Literature Academic Group (ELL), and Dr Sun Baoqi, Research Scientist at the Centre for Research in Child Development, also shared findings from their studies about the reading habits of children and adolescents, and the impact of technology on students’ reading habits.

Participants from NIE, Ministry of Education (Singapore) (MOE), National Library Board, National Arts Council, Singapore Book Council and various school leaders and educators discussed their concerns and shared ideas during the breakout sessions. Facilitators included Dr Elizabeth Pang from MOE’s Curriculum Planning and Development Division, Asst Prof Victor Lim Fei, NIE ELL, and the presenters.


Participants at the roundtable