mcquaid
I came across a news article tonight that I thought was rather interesting. In it, findings are given that say people who use tablets consume more news (and media in general) than they did before they had a tablet. Also noted was the development of apps to be used while consuming media on a separate […]
Continue reading Tablets – The New Newsies Posted in: Blog Café How effective are e-books? That depends on what you want them to be effective at, and whether they are a step up from something else. Are they effective teaching tools, or are they effective cost savers? A quick search of academic articles will easily give results for both sides. Some studies (Annand, 2008) show that […]
Continue reading E-ffectiveness of e-books Posted in: Week 06: eBooks
Mcquaid,
I am not surprised about the impact ebook has on literacy development. I too saw a few reports where it impacted literacy positively. I also think it is more practical to measure literacy because of the features that are geared toward meaning and comprehension. It is with this in mind that I am planning on testing the waters for myself.
Everton
Hi Mcquaid,
I read Annand’s research report and was very impressed with the saving that the purchasing of eBooks brought the university. It would appear that eBooks are beneficial to publishers, teachers and students in terms of reduced cost. But I also think it is more convenient and flexible for teachers and students.
Hey, I agree with your post. I believe that anyone who buys an ebook will benefit not only from a positive reading experience, but also save money, even with purchasing the ebook. Because there are so many different brands and costs on the market, people have several to choose from- expensive to inexpensive.
Jenaca
Hi Mcquaid,
I like how you have categorised niche areas for the ebooks, It actually helps to analyse its pedagogical relevance and effectiveness by separating the possibilities. it is also help to identify reasons why institutions embrace learning technology- to save cost and to improve teaching or leaning capacity. Good ideas for an EVA to leverage for decision making.
I would like to be able to talk about my experiences of using an eReader, but I can’t. The only time I have ever used an eReader or a tablet was a year ago, sitting next to a friend of mine at our annual teachers’ convention. He was reading something on his wee Archos one, […]
Continue reading The Old Man and the e… Reader Posted in: Week 06: eBooks
I am with you, Stephen. I don’t have the time to read novels right now… Two MET courses, two daughters, one busy job, my wife just got a new job, and well, the list goes on. Like you, I am an avid reader on the computer and on my devices.
I would argue that anything I read on my handheld devices, including my computer, is e-reading. I think the common parlance is that it must be either a handheld device or a marketed e-reader device. I would disagree.
When I read my readings, and there a fair number, for ETEC 540 which I am taking along with 522, I read all the hyperlinked readings using my iPad; my codex textbooks are never far away either. But my iPad and my codex books are there together. The iPad certainly is closer to the form factor of my textbooks than my desktop PC.
Just some thoughts…
E-Reading is an emerging and dynamic skill, isn’t it? The way we read now has so much more to it than it used to. It’s interesting to think what the next step(s) will be.
I think your approach to reading is much closer to the younger generation’s, Stephen, than that of an “old man”! I would guess that your comments would be echoed by the majority of my grade 9/10 students, and it is more a function of habits than reading ability. Kids today would be shocked if you told them they actually read a lot, but it’s in a more peripatetic style and in bite-sized pieces. Also, I’m not sure if you can consider checking one’s Facebook a reading experience. What do you think?
KJ
Absolutely – I think my approach is pretty current, too. 😉
I think checking Facebook would actually be a rather complex reading task / skill – there are different data / text streams to pick and differentiate from, pics and vids in addition to text, poor e-spelling to wade through… lots of different hurdles!
Our new LA program from Nelson kind of leads into this whole “everything you take in is text” idea. Movies, music, books, posters… anything that gives information is text. The program focuses a lot on how students connect to whatever text they have in front of them. I hope it helps them see that just because they don’t like reading some large books that they’re not readers.
Thanks for sharing your experience with an eBook reader. Nice pictures you added here! 🙂
I use my iPhone to save any pdf files, important documents, pictures, and videos, to read eBooks and the Bible, and to watch the movies.
However, my parents still prefer to watch the movies on a bigger screen and read paper books/newspaper/magazines. It’s probably because they can’t read small fonts as their eyes hurt. But I don’t think that eBook is for younger generations. Of course it’s a new technology that was first introduced not so long ago. Nonetheless, I’ve seen older people on the bus in the library reading their eBooks. No matter how old a person is, I think eBook is a very useful technology tool for many people.
Deb
You had me at “the old man and the e”. lol.
Good points, too. I think the move towards a multi-use device is inevitable, especially at this price point.
Emily
Since 2008, MathTV.com has provided video of their math instructors demonstrating the processes of solving many varieties of math problems. They offer free videos as well as video content for university-level material which you can pay for or get a six-month subscription for with the purchase of one of their textbooks. In addition to their […]
Continue reading MathTV.com Posted in: Week 04: Entrepreneur Bootcamp
Hello,
I had a similar feeling about the fact that there was little information readily available about the companies on some of these sites. I was interested in looking for Picassahead, but the company info was challenging to get to. When we talk about critical thinking and assessing the information that we take from the web, it was a bit of a wake-up call. Also a sense of ‘why aren’t they proud of their product’.
Cheers,
Kristopher
You’re right, Kris… I would think it (coming from an artsy science guy, mind you) to be just good business to have at least some basic resume-type info about yourself “out there” that would allow people to understand you better as well as link you to your positive achievements.
Hi Mcquaid,
MathTV seems like a good venture, it has prompted me to start a company of similar nature. I have always toyed with the idea of Math solutions for Caribbean Secondary Education Council Examination (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) students.
Evernote allows you to save, store, and organize anything from lists and notes to pictures, audio files, and websites. Two of its selling features are that it can run on virtually any Internet-ready device you already own, and that it aids in organization by allowing file labeling and tagging. Another selling feature is that the […]
Continue reading Hello… I’ve Waited Here For You… Evernote Posted in: Week 03: Analyst Bootcamp
I agree that the the pitcher passes on a level of trust. I also agree with how your initial enthusiasm is not maintained.
This pitch is end users, not EVA people. It gets the uninitiated interested, in the way that your interests were piqued. However, the more specific things that separate it from its competitors (Livebinders and even OneNote to some extent) require more in-depth comparisons than what a 1 minute pitch can deliver.
I really like how they pitched the mobile device aspect. I’ve been an Evernote user for over a year and it can be useful. It does a good job of indexing and allowing users to search the materials you’ve uploaded, including PDFs. This is one area that OneNote is terrible at.
I think you’re right in your end users vs EVA audience. I think I went through the same transition as a viewer… at first, I liked the idea, but, in the end, if I had to put money into it, I’m not so sure I would.
Hi Doug,
Interesting and correct that you say this pitch is aimed towards end users rather than EVAs. The question is, however, would end users watch this type of pitch? It seems that the pitch, per se, is a business-type of thing that is generally not targeted at general public type end users. So, if this is his target, he should use something more video-like and media rich (like what you see on the website). If the pitch is, by definition, targeted at investors, then why not focus on what they want to hear? Show me the money, right?
Emily
Mcquaid,
I must agree with you about the body language of the presenter. Do you think this was a ploy to remain different? It always amazes me when presenters present their product as if they are appealing to inanimate objects. However, sometimes this is not a reflection of the quality service or product being advertised. It’s just up to the consumer to trust his or her judgement and do his own research before investing or buying.
Hi, Everton.
I don’t think body language was even on his mind. I think Libin was solely focused on two things: showing off the logo and cramming program information into a minute time frame. He did a pretty good job of both, but neglected things like energy and a rationale for why his program solves some hitherto-now unsolved problem.
I think this also reflects that the CEO is not a marketing, “get up in front of everybody” type of person. I suspect that Evernote, like many tech companies, has very few employees and perhaps no one specific as the front person for marketing?
I would agree with you that this CEO is not a “get up in front of everybody” type of person and not everyone is or can be, but I think that this is initial enthusiasm is so important in a position where you only have 1-2 minutes to capture someone’s attention. Of course it is not only this and a pitch must contain many other important things, but if this important information such as problem–> solution, how you will do it, and why it should be done can be pitched with more confidence it is likely to be more successful in that short amount of time.
Hi Mcquaid,
You are right that the pitcher delivered a comprehensive message though I though he only focused on what the product does. I also can relate to what you mentioned about his body language, I though he was a bit nervous. I guess we can assume everyone is their target audience. I initially thought it sounded like a personal digital library and then I thought, “with media cards, my smart phone can do all that” and is right in my hands, I do not have to pay to access the data I put on it. I guess I am saying that it would have been more informative if he had mentioned what they are trying to improve on or compete against .
Hey Ifeoma,
I agree with your post that the pitcher delivered a well-rounded message and that he did limit himself by mainly focusing on what the product does. I believe its important in a short pitch to include as much information as you can, touching all the key parts of what most critiques would like to see addressed.
This is a look at the eLearning coach (Connie Malamed)’s Learning Technology Trends To Watch In 2011. Done in December of 2010, some of it may be dated or evolving already (as the article alludes to, as an “artificial” end-of-year piece), but as a static document, I took it at its face value right now. […]
Continue reading A Tale Of Two Stories Posted in: Week 02: The Edtech Marketplace
I think we are both saying that the site doesn’t really say too much… or, at least, too more more than we already know… I suspect that it becomes more of an audience issue… Who is Connie’s audience with this blog? Probably not us… You and I are probably more the type to follow the blog’s of specific teachers using technology and hang on every word of their reflections about using it in their practice. For example, take a look at this teacher and her breathtaking post about using VoiceThread as a containers for her students’ e-portfolios:
http://teachingsagittarian.com/2009/03/voicethread-as-a-digital-portfolio/
That’s what I’m talking about…
I think you’re right Jim – it may be an audience issue. I think her article is fine for what it is, perhaps – just a list of things. As MET students, directed to be critical, I wonder if we just wanted and expected too much from it.
Thanks for the blog link. I checked it out the other day… I’ll have a more thorough look later!
Cheers,
Steve
I agree with both of you. i wonder if she is a teach teacher just trying to encourage her “troops” to look at tech alternatives in the classroom?
THANK YOU for the great voicethread link…We are looking at e-portfolios at work at the moment…so this a great example for my “troops”.
Verena:)
Howdy, e-folks. My name’s Steve – one or two of you may have seen me in another course before (this is my sixth one) – and I live on Prince Edward Island. Some of my main interests are music, playing trivia weekly, les Canadiens, photography, nature, & technology (have been blogging for six years… just […]
Continue reading East Coast e-Hello! Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
I agree with you so much about tech being great if it is better than an alternative..it is awfully expensive for schools if it doesn’t add much to the learning experience. And I am really pro-tech too, but only if it is used right. I am sure with your new family addition, things like getting enough sleep is pretty important too!
It is! I’m learning the ropes with this new plate-spinning balancing act of school, masters, my wee fella, and “regular” life!
Before you publish your posting, please make sure that you select a category (eg. Introductions) as well as assign some meaningful tags (keywords).
David William Price 9:51 pm on October 14, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I’d say it’s because tablets are instant-on and handy. They also simplify consumption by creating “apps”. No computer, no boot up time, no web browser necessary. Tablets are big enough to read comfortably (especially with zoom) and small enough to curl up with.
bcourey 2:52 am on October 15, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
This is really encouraging news. I was always sad when I polled my senior students in my World Issues class as to how many of them ready any news on a daily or even weekly basis – the majority did not…nor did their parents. So I made sure that we had national and international papers in the classroom every day and gave them time to browse. So this article gives me great hope and gives me yet another reason to strengthen the pitch at our school board to allow tablets (and other devices) in the classroom – we are getting there, but at a snail’s pace!
Deb Giesbrecht 6:35 am on October 16, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I think it is because it is portable and in real-time – meaning I don’t have to lie in bed to wait for the news to come on – I can turn to it at any time with a tablet. Our society likes ‘instant’ everything, and tablets tend to feed into that mentality.