Friday, September 24, 2010

Digital Libraries


The article, "Digital Libraries: shifting the Landscape" is an informative article about the shift of the way books are read. We now have the technology to be digitalizing our books making them more readily available to everyone.

I feel that by digitalizing books, it is a new way for students to read books that fit into their technology-based lives. The new technology allows more people to have access to more information which is extremely concrete, in comparison to the internet. This is definitely going to affect the dynamic in my future classroom. Soon textbooks will no longer be available in a printed version which will allow students to view their math problems on their phones, laptops and kindles. As a teacher I could display the problems easily in front of the class which could cut down lecture time and make the class environment more efficient. Personally, I am a big fan of the kindle. It not only reads like a book with its e-ink technology but it also stores multiple books in one place so there is no excuse for a forgotten book.

Overall this article is showing how fast technology is changing, and it is moving our society into an endless world of information. Even though ethics is an underlying issue, digital books can be a positive tool especially in learning.

The following are the NETS standards for 9-12 that apply to this article:

#3: By selecting digital books, students can be more efficient in their learning especially with built in dictionaries and searches.

#6: Digital books have pros and cons, but students have the opportunity to choose to use them based on their needs.

#10: If using technology like a kindle, it is an opportunity for students to use, understand and troubleshoot a new device that they might not usually be able to use.
Bull, G., & Sites, M. (2009). Digital Libraries: Shifting
the Landscape [Electronic version]. Learning & Leading, 37(1),
12-13.
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2 comments:

  1. MatthewSeptember 24, 2010 at 11:21 PM

    Julie.

    I have not bought a kindle yet, but my experience with the iPad has sold me on the eBook idea. I was taught, growing up, that you are never to mark on books, that they are to be read and enjoyed, but not written upon. During college I detested writing on my books and to this day I never do.

    This is where digital version are so cool. You can mark them up, you can comment in the margins, and when you are done, can can choose to delete what you have written.

    Searching for specific text, highlighting passages to share, via twitter/facebook/etc., that is where I see a real use in the electronic texts. Indeed, how cool is it to be able to highlight a word and be presented with a definition? No more dictionary... It make me want to go back to school!

    Now that the iPad has put pressure on the Kindle, the affordability of the readers is finally coming to a price point that will encourage people to buy them and so encourage publishers to produce them.

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  2. J-Jonker422September 25, 2010 at 7:05 PM

    I concur with you, Julie. Digital libraries, ebooks, and the like are the informational beholders of the future. Though books should never be thrown aside or forgotten, the concept of digital libraries and ebooks have provided much easier access for students to read more, learn more, and research more.
    Though, I myself do not own an iPad or a Kindle, I definitely see their worth.
    Information accessibility is key especially to the current generations of kids up and coming that tend to prefer laziness and ignorance.
    The more that facts, truth, and general information can be presented and inundated within the realm of the students, the more likely ignorance will dissipate.

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