Abstract:

The psychological and pedagogical literature analyzes the indisputable benefits of reading and reading literacy as a complex phenomenon of cognitive skills and competencies for the emotional and intellectual growth of young people, for the development of imagination, stimulating curiosity, forming interests, life goals, value priorities and values etc. contributing to the learning, socialization and spiritual enrichment of the individual throughout life. In recent decades, the intensive penetration of information and communication technologies in all social spheres and activities and, in particular, the Internet and smart technologies has contributed to the mass transition from print to digital text and changes in readers' attitudes, interests and behavior in new generations. There are processes that lead to a significant revision of the understanding of reading literacy and the approaches and strategies for its formation in the modern educational system. The so-called digital reader has appeared on the scene that seeks information, communicates, learns, works, buys and has fun in a dynamic electronic environment. In order to outline the effective educational initiatives that meet the challenges of the new information situation to create a supportive educational culture based on the needs of adolescents for self-development and self-affirmation, in the period November - December 2020 an empirical study was conducted among 336 Bulgarian pupils and students aged 13-21 (M = 18.34, SD = 1.74). The research methodology is complex and includes online questionnaires of semi-structured type and a series of focus groups, implemented in an electronic educational platform. The results of the study reveal that there are some differences in the responses of pupils and students in relation to the identified educational strategies, which is largely due to the age and educational level of the respondents. For example, while pupils point to the leading role of teachers, curricula and the organization of extracurricular activities such as interest clubs, competitions and charities, students emphasize the need for more advertising campaigns and promotions on social networks, educational events with celebrities, free access to online libraries and e-books, more book crossing areas in public places, etc. Despite the differences, there is a significant consensus in the answers of both groups of respondents about the need to promote reading among the younger generations as a key factor in forming a successful personality and ensuring the quality of human capital in the modern information society.

Keywords:

Reading, reading literacy, motivation to read, educational initiatives, youth.