Article Review #3

School turns page on technology with e-reader textbooks

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/jun/02/022243/school-turns-page-technology-e-reader-textbooks/c_2/#comments


Description:
This article examines Clearwater High School's (Tampa, Florida) decision to provide all of its students with ereaders with downloaded copies of their textbooks on them. Currently, the ereaders only have the English and Math textbooks on them, with plans to expand the number of textbooks in the future. The students are excited about the ereaders. They appreciate the fact that they do not have to carry several pounds of books, only the light ereader. There are several concerns that students will not properly care for the ereader. Students feel that they already care for other pieces of technology; the ereader will just be another piece that they will also care for.
Analysis:
Clearwater High School has an opportunity to open doors for students and districts throughout the nation. There are many problems with using the ereaders: cost, care, and abilities of students, but if districts can overcome these problems, there are many benefits from these ereaders. All of the textbooks are in one place. As long as the student has the ereader, they are prepared, at least minimally, for class. Students can also interact with the text more. With a regular book, they cannot write in the book or take notes. With an ereader, they do not need any more materials to take notes, highlight, or look up a definition of a word. It also helps students with reading fluency, comprehension, disabilities, or ELL students. The Kindle can read a selection out loud to students. This would let them listen and read the words for a different learning styles.
Reflection:
I really like the ideas that this article is covering. I just started using the Kindle App on my iPod Touch and I enjoy reading on that just as much as a 'real' book. I believe that the ereader can open up a lot of doors for students. I would look forward to possibly using the ereader in my future classroom. This tool has a large possibility of helping students from all backgrounds access the material in different ways, and isn't that what being a teacher is all about? I know that there might be negatives in using the ereaders, but there are negatives in using every new piece of technology available in education. I believe that ereaders can be beneficial to the students who use them.