The Old Man and the e… Reader
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
Jim 5:55 pm on October 11, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
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…
mcquaid 7:58 am on October 13, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
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.
Karen Jones 6:31 pm on October 11, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
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
mcquaid 7:57 am on October 13, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
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.
Deb Kim 1:45 pm on October 12, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
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
jarvise 2:43 pm on October 13, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
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