Meet Booqio: the effective tool to increase students' enjoyment of reading
Alarm bells are ringing worldwide among governments, schools, education professionals and parents. The urgency is enormous; a quarter of young people are insufficiently literate and the number of effective methods to improve reading behavior remains painfully behind. While we all know that reading is important for the development and fulfilment of young people and for their personal growth. Because not only does reading strengthen empathy and the ability to concentrate; proficient readers function better in society and increase their chances in the labor market.
Developed by and for teachers
A team of direct stakeholders, peers and education professionals picked up the gauntlet. They developed Booqio, an interactive platform that gives primary and secondary teachers a highly effective tool to help their students (re)discover the joy of reading. It is the practical complement to existing educational programs. Young people exchange their reading experiences with each other and motivate each other via short vlogs in the Booqio app. By watching fellow students' vlogs in the app, students can gain inspiration for choosing their next book. All the books being vlogged about will appear in the class' virtual bookcase. The educational institution and teacher have full control behind the scenes and can closely track each student's reading progress and monitor skills.
From individual to social
Whereas reading books is now mostly an individual activity, with Booqio it becomes a social and interactive activity. Making vlogs and using the app is an engaging activity for young people, and at the same time they collectively and individually discover that reading books is not an unpleasant duty, but rather fun and social. The app also has a gaming aspect to it. Classes can "read against each other" to get to the top of the rankings. In other words, the more your class reads, the higher you finish. The competition element ensures that students are extra motivated and stimulated to read as well as to vlog. For the teacher it is a valuable tool to make reading interesting and the perfect basis for activating reading didactics in the classroom.
From reading deficit to reading pleasure
In the Netherlands, Booqio is being used successfully in several classes at Yuverta comprehensive school. Carlijn Bekkenutte-de Vetter, Dutch teacher at Maerlant in Brielle and co-developer of the app: "Many students choose a book based on the low number of pages, or the ease with which they can read it. They do not have adequate visibility into the book offerings that are appropriate for their age, reading preferences and reading ability. Students who choose a book based on convenience, disinterest or fear of their low reading ability get stuck in that negative reading spiral, while reading more actually improves their reading skills." The Booqio app helps students make good book choices. "When we started using the app, we quickly noticed that the students enjoyed reading more and participated more actively in the fiction lessons. It also contributes to the continuity of reading books and gives structure to the lessons, both for the students and the teacher."
Reading stimulates the brain
Booqio is the inspiring answer to the current, recognizable and, above all, urgent demand for more reading pleasure among young people. Booqio offers teachers the effective tool that allows students to read to learn, as well as discover the pleasure of learning to read.
Want to know more?
Stop by Booqio' s booth during NOT in Hall 1, booth number 01.SD17.
Surely you will come to the NOT? Register here for free admission.
