The last of a six-talk series from the University of Lethbridge will dive into the importance of reading in today’s world.
Dr. Robin Bright will be the presenter for the Thursday, March 27 PUBlic Professor Series talk, which will address the question: Does Reading Even Matter?
“In today’s increasingly fast-paced environment, we tend to consume and create information and entertainment online,” says Bright.
“We use Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook, YouTube, and many others to read. And when we read on those platforms we tend to skim read, look for headlines, stumble upon content, but we seldom read deeply or critically.”
Bright says not only has she found that reading a book is much more satisfying than the online experience, but she also notes it is more beneficial when it comes to brain health and development.
“In this talk, I will share my research and statistics about reading, how it develops, how it’s taught and all the benefits that reading brings,” she says.
“This includes benefits in areas like achievement in school and beyond, brain health, addressing mental health issues like stress and anxiety, and helping to develop empathy.”
The educator’s passion for how children develop as readers and writers started when she was a modern languages undergraduate student and a student teacher in the Faculty of Education. Those experiences led to a decade-long teaching career, primarily at the grade one level. She then shifted to a career as a researcher, writer and teacher educator working with preservice teachers, practicing teachers, children, parents, and colleagues.
The free public talk is on Thursday, March 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge. The talk will be posted on the U of L YouTube page following the presentation for anyone who cannot attend in-person. Registration is needed to attend the session in-person, which can be done through the U of L website.
