My school does not circulate ebooks but we do have access to online encyclopedias and other reference materials through GALILEO and the Cobb Virtual Library. We do have subscriptions to online resources that have some books like Scholastic's Book Flix. All of our textbooks can be accessed online and each student is able to access these books from home with a password. None of these are specific "ebooks" that require a different device for showing the material. Any home computer with internet access can access these books with the proper passwords.
I would love to see something for kids to use that is inexpensive to purchase. It would be fun to have some ebook readers at a school to give students in the elementary school access to the technology and maybe gain a love for reading with the unique twist. I know many people are scared that this will make the media center even more likely to be cut because there is no need for circulation but I believe that there will always be a need for the media center, whether it be for technology, media, reading, or information. There will always be a need for the support for teachers and students.
Digital Storytelling is something that many schools have not seen or been exposed to. Students learn best by showing and telling what they have learned. This process can be used for students to explain what thye have loearned or teachers can use it to introduce a topic. The University of Houston's Digital Storytelling website gives great ideas and a much better idea on what digital storytelling is. When I become a media specialist, I would love to use this resource to support teachers and promote collaboration.
I have known several people who did not enjoying reading books. They were overwhelmed by the hundreds of pages. However, reading an ebook was another animal altogether because they only see one page at a time. I would also like to see an inexpensive reader come out, that libraries could use for check out with students. I think we have to try every possible way to entice students into reading. Reading is such a personal thing also, students may not really want to share with a teacher why they don't like it.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your comments about ebooks. I am also hoping for an inexpensive reader students can checkout. I also agree that ebooks are not a reason to cut the media center. A media specialist's job is so much more than circulation. I think we need to meet kids where they are comfortable when it comes to teaching a love of reading. Most students are very comfortable with technology. Hopefully ebooks will increase in their appearance on the shelves in schools.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comments concerning digital stories as well. I think they are a perfect way for a media specialist and teacher to collaborate. They engage the learner and offer another format of learning.
I have enjoyed a few conversations at my school, concerning ebooks. I have been the lone voice of enthusiasm along these lines, mostly due to budget restraints and different priorities for limited funds. I understand these realities and have chosen to continue laying the groundwork for the eventual consideration that will be given ebooks in the media center and in the school. So far, the main inroads I have been able to make revolve around the idea of making purchases after getting a certain amount of buy-in from a few teachers, who will agree to ensure the ebooks are used for class assignments. This makes sense, on one hand, but on the other - we have to consider how many students will be able to use a single copy of an ebook at a time, so we will have to decide to either 1. hand pick one student at a time to try the e-version of a book, which will be agonizingly slow as to getting any kind of usable feedback, or 2. we will have to spend more money up front, allowing many more students to use the "test" book(s) at the same time. It is so hard to get people to spend money on an unproven idea, but I am convinced this is a wave of the future, and I want our students to catch the wave. Fortunately, I feel comfortable in this environment, continuing to make efforts along these lines. It is almost as if the powers that be would like to see us find a way to make this work, curricularly AND budgetarily, so they continue to listen...and shoot down (nicely) my ideas.
ReplyDeleteI love how there are resources already available at your school that students and parents can access on line at home. It is so important for parents to see what their students is doing in school and what they are learning and what is available for them at home. Students are successful more often when parents are involved. Maybe your school could have a fundraiser to raise money for ebooks? Or maybe parents would donate ebooks for the library? You are right about always needing a media center and specialist no matter what is available on line. That's like saying that since Skype is available, we don't need teachers or schools, they can learn from at home by loggin in on line. There will always be a need for us, we are just trying to enhance student learning by brining in new technology. Too bad budgets don't feel the same way!
ReplyDeleteMy school also uses the online textbooks, but it is not a widely utilized resource. I know that our media specialist has talked about getting a few Kindle-type readers, but the money is just not there right now. I love the idea that reluctant readers may be drawn in by the new technology and become reading enthusiasts by accident. I think that any way we can draw children into books is positive.
ReplyDeleteYou made a very good point when you stated that elementary students might "gain a love for reading with the unique twist." I have seen how my students gravitate toward technology tools. We use Neo Alphasmarts to engage writing and the students love it! I believe ebooks will spark a love for reading for many students. I agree that the media center will always be needed. I think we forget to take advantage of the abundant amount of free resources available, including ebooks!
ReplyDeleteDigital storytelling is a great tool for students. I like the idea of teachers collaborating to make this tool meet its potential for engaging students in learning. I can see the media specialist, instructional technologist, art, language arts, reading, science, social studies, and even the math teachers working together to help students create digital stories that demonstrate learning. By teachers working together, students will have the support they'll need to create while taking the most advantage of time.
I haven't purchased any ebooks yet, but I am getting ready to get some through Follett. I sent an email to teachers to ask for any specific topics they would be interested in books for. It seems that all of the ebooks available through Follett are non-fiction and would yield themselves well to classroom use. That being said, however, I am sure my students will be jumping at the chance to check them out! They already love the alternative format provided by the Playaway MP3 players, and I know they will enjoy ebooks as well. Most all of our students have computers at home, so reading the books will not be a problem.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the media specialist job is definitely needed. I do so many more things besides encouraging reading. I have often said that I could show up at work with nothing on my to-do list and stay busy the entire day. That's how much my "services" are used. It may be photographing school events and uploading photos, making posters on our poster printer, helping with tech troubleshooting, and then of course, the many aspects of simply running a media center, including compiling product orders such as books and supplies. These are all things that a trained person needs to do in order to keep the media program running to support the entire school program.
I know in recent media specialist meetings, we have heard about the insecurity of our positions, according to state personnel. It is now more important than ever to be seen as vital and necessary!! We must do whatever it takes to present the necessity of the media program as a crucial part of the school.
(Kinda got off on a tangent there.....) :)
I wanted to comment on the digital storytelling, too. This is new for me, and I don't think anyone has done this in my school yet. I am glad to be learning about it so that I can work with teachers and students on this and use this project to explore topics and help students meet standards, both GPS and 21st Century!!
I hope I haven't said everything here...still need to comment on some other blogs!!! :)