E-books/e-reading Newbie? Not really.
I would say that my first encounter with e-book would be from subscription to a free one from a tech e-news letter, this was long before I ever heard about e-readers. About three years later, thanks to ETEC I encountered e-books not to mention Google scholar.
Between demands from news feeds, checking emails, ETEC course and work needs, more and more I find that I do a lot of reading off my blackberry or computer (electronically). This realisation has had me thinking about getting an e-reader. I am always on the go and do quite a lot of reading during my daily commute, so I figured an e-reader would help me carry less load. I had a back pain that tormented me for months from carrying a heavy text book for days on end and that made me decide to leave any heavy books at home from then on. What a relief it would be to know that I could carry tons of heavy books as e-books on a portable device and not worry about physical pain on my body.
I had an encounter with e-reader while trying to help someone surmount her technical challenges in order to access ebooks. I must say that I was taken in by the portability and features. Since then, I keep checking reviews of e-book reader brands to decide which to acquire. A friend of mine downloaded the Bible in modern English on her Blackberry and was showing me over thanksgiving telling me how convenient it was for her and she could access it anywhere, anytime and that finally did it for me. I am e-fascinated 🙂
Ifeoma
Posted in: Week 06: eBooks
Kristopher 1:15 am on October 13, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Ifeoma,
I can also see that there is a link between how much reading we do online that makes an eReader a little more enticing. It is sort of like the amount that we do on the go now has sensitized us and set the stage for eReaders.
I have found that with MET I am not commuting and have not felt the same way about carrying textbooks, but I would have done anything in teacher’s college to not carry five or six text books to all day classes.
Kristopher
ifeoma 7:04 pm on October 14, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Kristopher,
Yes the availability, portability, accessibility and ubiquity of technology is well demonstrated in its use in learning and that is what makes it appealing and enticing. That same reason makes it easy to acquire technology and not explore it’s effective application in some case. Novelty has a big role to play. I guess that is why as EVA in training we need to analyse each one to make a careful determination of it’s effectiveness before investing $$! You mentioned that you find that with ETEC you are not commuiting. That is so true, cutting travel costs is one of the advantages of online learning and one reason schools adopted online learning.
Everton Walker 6:29 pm on October 13, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Ifeoma,
It is very convenient. I too downloaded the bible and it is so cool to read it from the BB. I am assuming the ebook gives that same kind of feel. The more I talk about ebook, the urge is coming on stronger to get one and explore. Maybe I also need to seek sponsorship to source ebooks for my practicing teachers to assist them on their practicum.
Everton
ifeoma 6:41 pm on October 14, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Everton,
Good thinking about sourcing sponsorship for ebooks for your practicing teachers. I would like to know how you and these teachers may be able to form a professional digital community of practice with the e-readers. I am thinking that if the practicing teachers had a common page in something like an online tag tool where they could organize files, folders,and web bookmarks on the ebooks they find online, they could create their own joint reference library. Where different people collaborate and share ideas. It is what they do with it afterall that will make the pedagogical difference.