· 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?
