Electronic Books in the Elementary Classroom

Another trend that is on the horizon is the increasing popularity of electronic books, commonly known as e-books.  With the help of the Kindle app on my iPhone, iPad, and laptop, I have been using the digital editions of my textbooks and several novels in the past few months.  Some of the benefits of the e-book format:

·         ability to have a multitude of books in one mobile device,

·         the resources available within the readers, such as a built-in dictionary and thesaurus, and

·         prices are generally less expensive than hardcover editions of books.

Some drawbacks are:

·         availability – not all students have computer or reader access,

·         cost  - electronic devices are costly for the initial investment, and

·         the unpredictability of technology compared to opening up the textbook to read. 

How can this upcoming trend be used in the classroom? 

Buffalo Elementary adopted the Houghton Mifflin reading series, Journeys, for our reading textbook this year.  Houghton Mifflin has included a subscription to their website, www.think-central.com, as part of that adoption.  Teachers and students have access to all of the reading stories, decodable texts, and links to interactive games to increase comprehension and review related skills.  This format is a great bridge to the e-book format because it is freely accessed through the internet.  Students don’t need a dedicated reader, yet can access their reading books anywhere a computer is available.

Bookpals is a free website that offers books read by members of the Screen Actors Guild.  While not a true e-book format, students can access these books using iPods, desktops, or netbooks.  Students can be very excited about using technology, and it would be a great thing to expand that enthusiasm to reading through technology!

While this technology is still a few years away from mainstream educational use (Horizon Report, 2010), I think the benefits will outweigh the drawbacks and the electronic book format will continue to grow in popularity.  Have you tried an e-book in your classroom? 

Mobile Computers in Today's Elementary Classroom

As teachers in today’s elementary school classrooms, we are being asked to meet ever-changing goals while meeting the diverse needs of our students.  Times are changing, kids have changed, yet most teachers still teach using hardcover textbooks, workbook pages, and notes on overhead projectors.  Most teachers have access to technology, but lack the training and time to use that technology for innovative instruction. 

Mobile computing is changing the look of education (Horizon Report, 2010), and I wanted to share some related articles and links that give you ideas on how these devices can be used in your classroom tomorrow.

First, we need to define mobile computing.  Simply put, those iPod touches in your desk drawer, that iPhone you use to check the weather and Facebook, and the netbooks in the classroom cart are all examples of mobile computing.  Students are usually proficient in using these devices, but if not, they are quick learners.  The school’s wi-fi access turn these mini-computers into real-time input devices, tools to individualize learning, and help our students prepare for life in the 21^st century. 

This article talks about iPod touches in a university classroom, but the discussion postings and polling abilities can be used in our classrooms today. 

http://www.cmich.edu/CMU_Media_Channel_Home/iPod_technology_in_classroom.htm

This link takes you to “Trashcan Math”, a math game using the iPod touch.  Students link to the game, a simple spreadsheet, and then use their devices to input numbers to build either the largest or smallest numbers. 

(link coming soon)

This last link is a list of popular apps used on the iPod touch for classroom use.  I can see real-world possibilities for the iResponse (classroom response system), Sketchy (building storyboards), and the StoryKit (make your own book) apps.  I have a third grader who would love to make a story on the iPod to demonstrate story comprehension…

 http://sqworl.com/geglw4

 What ideas do you have for using mobile computers in your classroom?