La lettura online come nuova dimensione della literacy.

The essence of reading is changing, and is complicated by the need to know how to read hypertexts online. Such texts require a different way of process- ing the content, which has gained importance with the boom of information on the Internet and with its recognition as an important medium of commu- nication, entertainment, and information. However, if the immense availabil- ity information has, as its possible consequence, raised so much the need to read, it harbours within it the potential of turning people away from a fo- cused reading. The reason for this is that the understanding of the online content is the outcome of investment in research, evaluation, construction and reconstruction of the text, as well as a range of other skills that cannot be taken for granted in the actual reader, who is therefore led astray by her lack of knowledge. Indeed, the teaching of these new skills generates serious doubts in terms of opportunities and modes of action, thus forcing to start again a reflection on the delicate role of those who have to alphabetize when new socio-cultural scenarios emerge. Whether and how could the school take action in a field that is to-date abandoned to informal practices? Some studies suggest the opportunity to move towards techniques able to promote the processes of “self-regulation”, which are essential in the understanding of hypertext found online (and not only there). However, there are still too few studies on strategies for the reading and comprehension of non-linear texts; moreover, empirical data are not enough to enable an assessment of the effectiveness of these instructional techniques.