We have silent reading time during the second period at my school. During that time, students must read a novel which is not studied in their English class. We don’t allow textbooks, newspaper, magazines, and manga/comics as they could be skimmed rather than read. ALso, it is “reading for pleasure”, so homework or studying would […]
Continue reading eBooks for SR? Posted in: Week 06: eBooks
I am not personally aware of anyone using eBooks in the classroom, nor do I know of educators that use eBooks with their students. Others have posted about research on learning with eBooks, so I won’t comment on that (here). So that leaves me in a bit of a quandry. Do eBooks have a place […]
Continue reading eBooks and Learners Posted in: Week 06: eBooks My first experience with an eBook would be when I installed apps called Stanza and Classics to my iPhone about 2 years ago. Stanza is an app which you can download a selection of more than 50,000 contemporary books from its partner stores. It also allows you to download classics and recent works from Project Gutenberg, Feedbooks, and other sources. […]
Continue reading My eBook Experience Posted in: Week 06: eBooks
I agree with your health issues. I guess we need to moderate the use of eBook (especially with children). Getting a pair of eyeglass is not cheap.
@ Schiong: I agree with you. In addition to glasses, affording eBook or iPad is expensive as well. But, eyes also hurt when we read a book in the dark or watch TV. We might need glasses even though we don’t use eBook. Which one do you think is worth possessing more in the end? eBook or paper books?
Many people like eBook for its convenience and portability. However, it’s more expensive than buying paper books. On the other hand, since my eBook, for example, has more than 50 000 novels, buying eBook is a lot cheaper than buying 50 000 paper books in the end.
Not considering health issues (eyes), then eBook is very useful, isn’t it?
Deb
I’m a bit wary of some of the “pros” that are made for the ebook format. A friend of mine is involved in new media publishing, and just returned from New York where he met with publishers (his 2nd trip there). I don’t have solid numbers to back up my claim, but it is my […]
Continue reading Publishing and Opportunities Posted in: Week 06: eBooks
Thanks for the CBC link, Doug, and how could I forget to mention the Chapters/Indigo Kobo – how un-Canadian of me!
Great comparison between the eReader that will win the battle like VHS, which I would add won the battle of analogue video, but lost the war to digital video. When the same battle between HD DVD and Blu Ray was supposedly raging a couple years ago, lots of movie studios were unsure which way to go, as they didn’t want to invest on the losing side. WIthout having a large selection of content to offer, eReaders seem to be dragging behind. Once more news outlets embrace the digital environment, daily newspapers or weekly magazines will be on the frontlines for eBook market.
Hi Kyle,
Beta or VHS? The whole proprietary lock of different brands of e-readers being compatible with certain text formats definitely directed my purchase of the Sony, and my use of the software Calibre. For example, BC has an online library that is accessible through our city library and library card. Through this website one may borrow Adobe EPUB eBooks, Adobe PDF eBooks, OverDrive WMA Audiobooks, and OverDrive MP3 Audiobooks. While all e-readers seem compatible with PDF’s, Kindle does not support the EPUB format, which on my Sony, seems to have the “best” formatting. To address this issue, the desktop software, Calibre, will convert most any format to that desired for a huge number of e-reader brands.
However, it is this plethora of brands and e-book formats that would make me hesitate to dive into the ereader market, if I were purchasing for a school board. It seems that you would either have to have an idea of what titles schools wanted to buy, and work backwards from there, or a magic ball to foresee which device and text formats are left after the market dust settles. For my money, I would guess that an Apple product would be the best bet, as its iBook works on a variety of formats, and many people already possess a compatible device. Time will tell!
Hi All,
I like how you set up the technological warfare. It will only be time before existing technologies are replaced. It’s just a natural phase. That’s the main reason I don’t think we should treat older technologies as outcasts because of the arrival of new ones. Every technology was valuable during its time and should be treated accordingly.
Everton
Good comparison to music, Doug. I know I read in bite-size chunks, and I think my attention span overall (squirrel!) has suffered from my increased connection to digital media in the last ten years. Whether it be attention span, interests, or work, I find the only time I can sit and listen to an album (vinyl, tape, or even CD) the way I used to is in the car on the way to and from work. I never get “headphones” time with music anymore. Similarly, I don’t often have the time to sit and quietly read a book for enjoyment, either. I usually find I get time to read in the car (when not driving this time) or when waiting at an office or something.
The format size of things is changing, isn’t it… listening to whole albums has given way to a singles culture again. Perhaps reading is doing the same. Maybe I read in “singles” – bite-size bits I can skim through.
I wonder about this headphones component, too. How headphones could better connect you with an album and block out distractions. What would be the equivalent for a book? A quiet room with a lamp? An eReader with no web browser?
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hall 2:21 am on October 14, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Doug,
I think eBooks will transform our educational institutions. I have used eBooks with my students both in Mathematics and Physics. The students normally find them useful and convenient. There are a few students who find it difficult to study from eBooks but the alternative is that they can print the various sections of the books that are needed.
Doug Smith 5:05 pm on October 14, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I can see this happening in private or post-secondary education, but I don’t see it happening in the public system.
I’m curious: what kind of devices do your students use to read eBooks on math and physics? Who paid for them? What titles do you use for physics – I am very interested in this! Our school somehow has no textbook for Physics 11.
bcourey 4:03 am on October 14, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
We have a Kindle project going on in 4 Grade 7/8 classrooms that have found very low engagement in reading by the adolescent boys. We purchased sets of 6 for each classroom and purchased several books from Amazon (each book can be downloaded to 6 Kindles) and are gathering data on the engagement of the boys with reading. We definitely see that the technology piqued their interest and the students (girls too, but not so much as boys) ask to use the Kindles regularly. 2-3 of the students in each class make regular use of the text to speech feature on the Kindle – they prefer this over the use of the audio books (on tape cassettes) that are also in the room – cooler to use the Kindle than the old technology. We are waiting to see if the novelty wears off and the reading time drops off…not sure yet. The same boys who are in their second year of Kindle use are still using them regularly – a few of them now have their own readers purchased by parents…interesting so far.
Doug Smith 5:03 pm on October 14, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Regardless of the educational outcomes, are schools able to spend $100 per student on an eBook, along with purchasing new books that the departments already have in hardcopy? And even if some grants appear in special cases, what are the chances of getting another round of financing or grants once the eBooks break, become obsolete, or generally die? I just don’t see it happening. But then again, I’m not a finance guy!
Allie 12:39 pm on October 14, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Doug,
I really appreciate that you are bringing a more sober account; I think it’s really crucial. Your comment re: increase in computers (or lack thereof) is interesting, and makes me think that a valuable study for us would be which technologies *have* gained traction in different educational marketplaces, and which haven’t. I say different marketplaces because post-sec – where my instructional experience lies – is quite different from K-12.
Bcourey (my apologies, I don’t remember your proper first name!), I also think you’re right to point out that there’s a novelty factor that we need to be wary of.
Allie