E-books have been in existence for over ten years but only recently it has started to gain prominent attention. As teachers we need to make students aware of the various technologies that are available especially for struggling readers. Whether we know it or not, most of our students are spending hours using some type of technology outside of the school environment. Reading e-books is one way of ensuring students use their time profitably.
Characteristics of e-books
- consist of print and illustrations (just like traditional books)
- must be viewed on desktops, laptops, or portable devices (Amazon Kindle, iPods, some cell phones.
-consist of features like video, audio and hyperlinks
- contain interactive tools where readers can do the following: insert, delete or replace text; highlight, underline or cross out words; add comments and change text size or screen layout.
E-books are considered fun and it motivates students to read since it encourages them to become engaged readers.
Concerns of some teachers concerning e-books
It is restrictive and inconvienent
It isn't portable as a book (except for those who could afford the portable devices)
It is boring staring at the computer screen instead of snuggling up with a book.
Which will you chose? E-books or Traditional Books
Reference: Larson, L. (2009). Digital Literacies. Journal Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 53(3), 255-258.
Hi Esther
ReplyDeleteI think you are doing an excellent job with your blogs. I especially like how you end with a question to tease the mind of your audience.
My first response to your question was without a doubt, I choose ebooks over traditional books any day because as you said, the ebook is so interactive and motivating. However, I do love to snuggle up with a book. Personally, if I want to click instead of turning pages I choose an ebook. If I want to relax from work and take time out from the monitor I choose the traditional book. For my students I choose the one that will achieve our particular goal in reading.
Esther
ReplyDeleteI am tempted to say that I would choose a traditional book any day. I love to thumb through the pages of a book to get the gist of what the story is about. I can sit just about any place and read my book. I love to feel that adrenalin flow when I realize that I am almost to the end of the book. I guess the younger generation would go for the e-book because as we have seen it is fascinating and has the capability of keeping their attention .I guess they would love the fact that they can listen to the book as it "talks" to them. They also have the added benefit of pictures to make the book come alive. I guess this is what we really want for the reluctant readers to be stimulated and motivated to want to read.
Heather Palmer-Ovid
There is much to say about this electronic book that is currently the new buzz-word for thousands of readers. I am avid reader and I have in the past wondered if the old adage of “curling up in bed with a good book" can apply to e-books. In my ignorance, I could not fore-see the average reader even considering this a possibility. Within recent years, however there has been an increase in the number of purchases of E-books around the world, we now see many classics such as Treasure Island, The Pearl and Black Beauty finding themselves among the clouds of the internet. As much as the "old school readers" like the feel of the paper and the flowing of one's imagination on a cold rainy night, so too can e-books provide similarly packaged enjoyment.
ReplyDeleteThe benefit of these texts is their interactivity, which for struggling readers is the one factor that has them motivated to read.
The compromise is indeed that there is a place for the traditional and the new. However, we must accept that traditional isn't quite acceptable to the struggling "digital natives". As to your question, before "traditional" now get me a "kindle".