I've started exploring the various book tools available on iPad more deeply. A number of anecdotal accounts of the positives abound, but it's been difficult to find any real research. Of course conventional wisdom points to the tools avaialable on an iPad (or other e-reader device); variable text size, interactivity, text-to-speech, bookmarking, annotationl, and dictionaries all lend to differentiation and engagement which we assume leads to more reading ergo, increase in ability. Other great factors to consider, all e-readers are the same size; kids reading really thin books (or really thick ones) don't get singled out by their peers. Likewise, lexile stickers, titles and other evidence of the reader's ability are not visible to others. Kids don't get intimidated by a long (thick) book. And finally, who can ignore the 'cool' factor? Unfortunately, these devices are so new, very little real evidence of their efficacy exists.
It would seem e-readers are a no-brainer. But let's take a moment to consider the devil in the details. What about device management? Who purchases and downloads all the content--usually separately on each device? For that matter, content is still largely device dependent; you can't read a kindle book on a nook etc. etc. If the device has wi-fi connectivity, can it be networked to your school's exisiting infrastructure?
Which brings us to the iPad where there are a plethora of reading apps, so you loose the device dependency. And there is a way to manage multiple devices in one go which also support networking, So this only leaves the question of device ownership. That is, if you aren't in a 1:1 setting, sharing books across devices can be messy. Students 1 uses the device, annotates, bookmarks leaves. Students 2 enters, opens the same book and overwrites Student 1. And in the end, is it worth the cost? Basic e-readers run much cheaper these days than tablets, if reading / literacy is the goal, a plain reader may be the best option.
To start, I've downloaded a number of iPad book apps in an effort to play and understand how they might be handled. I'll be posting my findings as I go. In the meantime, here's the apps I've started working with.
Apps: Kindle, Nook, ibooks, book crawler, free books and overdrive (access to libraries) Wuthering Heights (a BeamItDown interactive book I've just started to explore) and The Lorax (by Oceanhouse Media--a fantastic example of why kids love interactive books)
Prelim findings: iPads may be best for station reading in an elementary classroom, or one-on-one with a tutor. In the secondary setting with novels and longer books, I really need to address the question of device management.
Please post / link any resources you have to share. I'll update here as the project progresses.
It would seem e-readers are a no-brainer. But let's take a moment to consider the devil in the details. What about device management? Who purchases and downloads all the content--usually separately on each device? For that matter, content is still largely device dependent; you can't read a kindle book on a nook etc. etc. If the device has wi-fi connectivity, can it be networked to your school's exisiting infrastructure?
Which brings us to the iPad where there are a plethora of reading apps, so you loose the device dependency. And there is a way to manage multiple devices in one go which also support networking, So this only leaves the question of device ownership. That is, if you aren't in a 1:1 setting, sharing books across devices can be messy. Students 1 uses the device, annotates, bookmarks leaves. Students 2 enters, opens the same book and overwrites Student 1. And in the end, is it worth the cost? Basic e-readers run much cheaper these days than tablets, if reading / literacy is the goal, a plain reader may be the best option.
To start, I've downloaded a number of iPad book apps in an effort to play and understand how they might be handled. I'll be posting my findings as I go. In the meantime, here's the apps I've started working with.
Apps: Kindle, Nook, ibooks, book crawler, free books and overdrive (access to libraries) Wuthering Heights (a BeamItDown interactive book I've just started to explore) and The Lorax (by Oceanhouse Media--a fantastic example of why kids love interactive books)
Prelim findings: iPads may be best for station reading in an elementary classroom, or one-on-one with a tutor. In the secondary setting with novels and longer books, I really need to address the question of device management.
Please post / link any resources you have to share. I'll update here as the project progresses.
RSS Feed