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Abstract
It is widely felt that adolescent boys are increasingly reluctant to read for pleasure. However, boys respond positively to technology. Therefore, it seemed logical to develop an action research project investigating smartphones as e-readers and to gauge their effect on boys' enthusiasm for reading. The research was conducted over several months and the data were analysed with reference to both the boys' enthusiasm for, and success in, reading. Findings were not always positive, but the smartphones did enhance reading opportunities for boys, motivating them to read regularly and supporting their preference for anytime, anywhere learning.
Rationale
International research notes growing concern regarding the decline in teenage reading in general, and boys' reading in particu lar (N EA 2007; OECD 201 0). Accord ing to Smith and Wilhelm (2002), adolescent boys view reading as a solitary, nerdy and feminine activity. This perception seemed especially true at my boys' boarding school, where days are heavily structured, sport is compulsory, and boys feel that their leisure time is both extremely limited, and precious. Added to this is the reality that many of the boys were quick to describe themselves as non-readers, even when they were able readers - a worrying trend. It appeared that reading was simply not an activity they saw as having value. In contrast, adolescent boys are generally perceived to take naturally and enthusiastically to the use of technology (Prensky 2006). Hence I was eager to investigate if, by allowing the boys to use their smartphones for reading, they would be more inclined to read, and even enthusiastic about reading, for leisure.
Literature review
The gap in reading skills between adolescent boys and girls has been a topic of discussion for many years. Smith and Wilhelm (2002, p.1) state, 'Without question, the widest current gender gap for learning achievement recorded by standardized measures is in the area of literacy'.
It is generally held that boys begin reading later, read less, value reading less, lag behind girls on 'almost every literacy measure in every country and culture from which data [are] available' (Smith & Wilhelm 2002, p. 2). Researchers such as Senior (2005), Tyre (2008), Gallagher (2009), Booth (2006) and BrummittYaIe (2008) concur with Smith and Wilhelm (2002) that boys, more often than...