Building a Reading Habit in Schools: Unlocking a Lifetime of Learning with SORA
In an era where screens dominate and attention spans are shrinking, cultivating a strong reading habit in students has never been more crucial. Reading remains the cornerstone of academic success, creativity, and lifelong learning. Yet many schools face a growing challenge: how do we ignite a passion for reading in young minds, especially when competing with digital distractions?
The answer lies not in resisting technology, but in using it smartly. Enter SORA, the award-winning reading app from OverDrive, brought to South African schools by Booktalk. With its digital library of eBooks and audiobooks, SORA makes reading accessible, engaging, and truly enjoyable.
Why Reading Habits Matter
A consistent reading habit improves vocabulary, comprehension, concentration, empathy, critical thinking, and self-expression, not to mention confidence. According to educational research, students who read for pleasure are more likely to perform better across all subjects. Regular readers also show stronger writing skills and emotional intelligence—qualities needed in today’s fast-evolving world.
However, creating a culture of reading goes beyond textbooks. It requires access, variety, and a sense of personal ownership over what and when students read.
The Modern Library, Reinvented: SORA
SORA revolutionises school reading by placing thousands of age-appropriate eBooks and audiobooks directly into the hands of learners—on their smartphones, tablets, or Chromebooks. With just a school login, students can explore a vast digital collection, anytime and anywhere.
From best-selling fiction to curriculum-aligned non-fiction, SORA’s catalogue supports reading for enjoyment and academic development. Its clean interface, built-in dictionary, and reading statistics allow students to track their progress and develop a routine at their own pace.
5 Ways to Build a Reading Habit in Your School with SORA
Start with Choice
Empower students by letting them choose what they read. SORA offers books across genres, levels, and interests—from fantasy to science, mystery to history. When students feel they have a say, they’re more likely to engage.
Make Reading Visible
Promote a reading-friendly culture by encouraging book talks, posters, and digital leaderboards using SORA’s usage stats. Highlight top readers, celebrate milestones, and share book reviews during assemblies or on social media.
Integrate Reading Across Subjects
Encourage teachers to assign SORA books for different subjects. Whether it’s a biography in History or a scientific deep dive in Life Sciences, integrating reading across the curriculum reinforces its importance.
Set Digital Reading Challenges
Gamify reading with friendly competitions and class challenges. Who can read the most pages in a month? Which grade reads the most books? SORA’s usage dashboard makes this easy to track and fun to reward.
Encourage Audiobooks for Reluctant Readers
Not every student loves print reading, but audiobooks can bridge that gap. SORA provides high-quality audiobooks perfect for auditory learners or students who struggle with traditional reading.
Why SORA is Perfect for South African Schools
In a country where access to physical books may be limited, SORA offers a solution that is inclusive, mobile-friendly, and cost-effective. With a growing collection of local and international titles, students in even the most remote schools can be connected to a world of stories and knowledge.
Final Thought
Creating lifelong readers doesn’t happen overnight. It takes planning, exciting resources, and supportive teachers. With SORA from OverDrive, schools now have the tools to bring back the magic of reading, making it part of every student’s daily life.
Let’s empower learners to read, grow, and thrive—one page at a time.
Revolutionary Results: Improving Grades and Wellbeing with Dugga Assessment and SIS Global
As technology continues to play a major role in education, the search for the best online assessment platform has been ongoing. The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), with its vision of being a global leader in applied education and tech-based skills training, took on the task of finding the perfect solution. After extensive research, SAIT set its focus on Dugga, the award-winning digital assessment platform.
The results of the eight-month study, which involved technical students from ten countries worldwide, were nothing short of ground-breaking. The research showed that the use of Dugga improved students’ learning outcomes by 75%, reduced stress by 60%, and increased teacher time efficiency by 98%. Furthermore, there was a clear reduction of exam-related stress and improvement in students’ overall wellbeing.
Dr. Amir Fard, from Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, comments, “The results confirmed the outstanding ability of the Dugga platform to improve students’ subject-matter retention, reduce stress, and improve class average grades. The anonymous feedback from students showed that over 96% of them were strongly satisfied with their Dugga experience.”
SIS Global is the sole authorized Dugga Partner for Africa, bringing this cutting-edge technology to schools in the region. SIS Global has implemented the Dugga solution for various schools in South Africa and offers first line support locally, ensuring a seamless experience for both students and teachers. A perfect example of this is the recent implementation at Christel House – a non-profit school with a single mission: to break the cycle of poverty. It offers no-fee scholarships to students from some of Cape Town’s poorest neighborhoods and supports them for 18 years (Grade R to Grade 12 and five years post matric) through character-based and career-focused education.
“With the proven results of the research conducted at SAIT, we are confident that the implementation of Dugga will have a positive impact on the education system in South Africa. The platform’s ability to improve learning outcomes, reduce stress, and increase teacher efficiency is sure to make a significant difference in the classroom’, says Ian Bailey, Head of Education at SIS Global.
The co-founders of Dugga, Dr. Claudia Rademaker and Dr. Patrik Nilsson, were ecstatic about the results of the study. They stated, “We are thrilled to learn about these results of this new independent research study. It gives our entire team an energy boost to continue developing our platform to help schools worldwide improve learning outcomes and wellbeing with quality and equality in assessment.”
The platform has received high praise from students and is a testament to the potential of technology in education. SIS Global’s mission is to bring innovative technology solutions to Africa and improve the quality of education in the region. The company’s partnership with Dugga is a testament to this mission and will help shape the future of education in Africa.
Theresa (from USA) who attended our recently hosted Grassland Society SA Conference
Thank you so much Paul! With the time change and watching these recorded, no technical issue on my end.
Thank you
Theresa
