eBook News

As a child who had print disabilities and did in fact need glasses, I can attest that I'm not surprised about this. While my own vision was good till about 6th grade, then I was involved in an accident that detached a retina and started deteriorating, giving me conflicting vision between my eyes, when in 7th grade led to failing spelling. Today, while the conflict is gone, I still use larger print as it is so much easier to read (than a size 10 or 12 font), which is a great thing about ebooks. I also now teach my own students about how they should check their students for things like both eyes tracking and convergence just by watching a student's eyes. Data show link between students' eyesight, academic performance Just 15 states require that preschool students be screened for vision problems, according to a report released today by the National Center for Children's Vision and Eye Health. Research has shown that vision problems can affect students' ac...

Hacking is a term that has been used to mean a variety of different things usually concerning computers or technology somehow. And while many think about hacking as breaking into secure computer networks, it can also be referring to modifying your own software or hardware on a computer system or even furniture (such as  Ikea hacks ). So hacking can include building, rebuilding, modifying, and creating software, electronic hardware, modding, or anything else, either to make it better or faster or to give it added features or to make it do something it wasn't initially intended to do. Hacking your textbook is to hack and adapt your textbook for greater personal efficiency, so that you can be great work easier.  So if you have full access to your textbook, not just for reading, but access enough that you can make changes, then it's time to start hacking your textbook. If you are using something like an open access textbook, that just makes this so much...

I love this idea, it is the real integration of mobile technology,  allowing  it not only to be remote, but also in-person. Patrons bring in their ebook reader and apparently the library has a computer with appropriate dongles that will allow the device to be connected and then the patrons can download ebooks from the library directly into their ebook reading device - avoiding the requirement for the patrons to have internet at home. Hopefully ebook industry will also recognize this form of access and make the direct connections the same across devices.  Public libraries have become one of the community hot spots, they have expanded their service to the community to go beyond just the loaning of books (which I know they were always much more) to having tech services for internet access and downloadable media. While for some this may seem like a step backwards, because patrons have to come in, it is actually a step forward as it is recogn...

Here is a news article that is about something that I has always been saying (along with a number of others), the use of assistive technology not only helps those persons with disabilities, it can help just about anyone. The difference is usually the difference in making something possible and easier. But in other ways, the assistive technologies may be improving learning my adapting the instructional materials for a learning style or situation. eBooks can be so much more accommodating that printed text, with their ability to adjust font size and use text-to-speech as two examples. For those of us who need glasses to read, the font size adjustment is certainly a big help. But also research has reported that increasing the font size a couple of times also decreases reading errors for students (along with making the text appear easier to read [less intimidating] it actually is easier). So too with text-to-speech, students can listen while they read, thereby readin...

One of the things that I love about ebooks is how accommodating they can be. In this case it is a factor of the teachers working ahead of time to pre-accommodate the texts that will be read, by providing clues and such to the texts. We often do this with printed works also, but those actions taken often "harm" the text as we have had to use highlighters, or have written on the text to add underlines and notes. The great thing about the ebook file is that when you do this for one you can distribute it to as many as you need. E-readers help customize lessons for Ohio students Educators at one Ohio school say Kindle e-readers are fostering individualized learning. The devices allow reading assignments and lessons to be customized for each student, with highlighted sections and relevant definitions at the ready. "The biggest advantage of the Kindles is the ability for teachers to leave notes within the text. The Kindle will also read the book aloud and enlarge the font,...

Technology in and of itself is never the answer, instead I have usually found it to be about interaction and engagement with the content and the tools of learning. Yes, there may be some initial technology attraction that can help you push though the cognitive overload of learning with a new tool, but in the long run it is usually what you do in the learning that can really help. Here is where I think that ebook devices have the advantage over printed text, just that you can do things like interact with your textbook to highlight, bookmark, and take virtual "margin notes" (all things that you are not allowed to do with a school book). Educator: Classroom technology should be about student engagement The key reason to implement such technology as the iPad and iPod Touch in the classroom is student engagement, says Patrick McGee, the assistant principal of a Florida school. He says the technology can be used to increase productivity or involve students in activities that wer...