Teaching During the “Rise of AI” and the “End of Reading”

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the challenges faced by writing teachers and writers in the context of the rise of generative AI and the perceived "end of reading" among younger generations. It explores the reasons behind the declining reading abilities of college students, the link between AI hype and the struggle to read, and potential solutions for addressing these issues.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The link between AI-hype and reading's slow death

1. What are the key reasons behind the declining reading abilities of college students?

• Pandemic-related learning loss
• Poor reading pedagogy, such as not teaching phonics and instead relying on "sight words" and context clues
• Teaching to standardized tests rather than fostering a love of reading
• The prevalence of social media and short-form content, which conditions people to consume information in small, isolated chunks rather than engaging with longer texts

2. How does the rise of generative AI relate to the decline in reading?

• The impulse to minimize effort links the widespread decline in reading and the explosion of interest in generative AI
• Both reading and writing require effort, which people are increasingly trying to avoid by outsourcing writing to AI and consuming more short-form content online

3. What are the potential consequences of minimizing reading and outsourcing writing to AI?

• It may short-circuit the development of higher-level thinking, empathy, knowledge, and even work ethic
• College freshmen of the early 2020s may be the "canary in the coal mine" - they are responding rationally to their environment, but may be losing something valuable without realizing it

[02] Solutions for addressing the decline in reading

1. What are some strategies suggested for helping students (and parents) read more deeply?

• Limit "superficial reading" online to make more time for deeper reading
• Teach that the skills of deep reading are more important than reading for tests
• Consciously carve out time to read whatever one enjoys
• Create "tech-free" classes and give reading quizzes
• Build rapport with students and hold them to high standards
• Integrate reading strategies into lessons about content
• Provide reading guides to help students identify and express main ideas
• Teach students how to annotate texts
• Foster study groups to hold each other accountable

2. How can the environment be changed to help students and younger generations develop better reading habits?

• If we change the environment, we can change their learning and growth
• If we help children and students see the purpose behind what we ask them to do, they are more likely to commit their time and energy to it