I really enjoyed the article on e-books. I think we are living in a real transitional period between traditional texts and e-books. The size and weight of these devices is getting smaller and lighter. Just think of all the things you can do on a phone that even a few years ago weren’t available. New generations of students will expect to use technology. My 3 year old nephew knows how to use his father’s iphone and get into his games. I can only imagine that in two years when he starts school, he will expect to use technology on a regular basis. He might not even know or understand that he has that expectation but he will be so used to using technology that it is almost as if he will need it to learn.
I like the possibility of using e-books in the classroom. I think there is a lot of potential to customize a reading program without a lot of additional work for a teacher. In Digital Readers: The Next Chapter in E-Book Reading and Response, Lotta Larson looks at the potential use of e-books in the classroom. Ms. Larson states that
“because e-books can be presented in an individualized format, students with special needs (Ell, visually impaired, struggling readers) may benefit from the additional text available from the use of electronic texts."
My school has a nice reading room but imagine being able to access almost any text without having to have huge storage space. With a few clicks on the keyboard, a teacher could select texts to meet each student’s needs and interests. For young readers, it is especially important to select texts that are of interest to them so they want to continue to explore new books.
Another aspect of the e-books that makes them enjoyable is that readers can make themselves comfortable while they read. During my D.E.A.R. time, my students love to plop themselves on pillows around the room. When they are using the computer to access a program like Pair-It, they have to stay seated in a chair at the computer. The e-readers would allow them to have the same experience of finding a comfortable spot to enjoy their reading.
The downside to the e-books is that they could further highlight the disparity in resources in a school system. I can imagine that if in a few years e-books are available for the classroom, they will be found in the schools in the more affluent neighborhoods, at least at first. Hopefully, the cost will continue to come down as the technology improves so e-books can be made available to all students.
References:
Larson, L. The Reading Teacher, 6491) pp 15 - 22
