The somewhat controversial topic: e-books, AKA electronic books. The question: Are they ready for classroom use? According to Simon (2001), "Perhaps eventually. For now, however, the role of the printed textbook, the single most widely used tool in the history of education, remains secure" (Simon, 2001, pp. 1). In Simon's article, titled Are e-Books Ready for the Classroom?, we learn the results of a study Simon himself conducted involving a small number of students who were provided the opportunity to use an e-book for a biology class. During the time this study was conducted, drawbacks of e-readers were evident: "The hardware was not up to speed. In particular, the LCD screens were small, had insufficient resolution, and were black and white" (Simon, 2001, pp. 2). Simon (2001) did state that "e-book problems that arose seem solvable in the future" (Simon, 2001, pp. 3). What I personally wonder is how Simon feels about the e-books offered today. Problems with black-and-white screens are now resolved. The LCD screens are larger than they were previously, and the resolution problem is resolved when it comes to today's e-readers. Whereas Simon did not think e-books were ready for classroom implementation at the exact time he wrote his article, I think there's a chance he would take a different stance when it comes to today's technology.
A more contemporary article by Harris (2012) states that "a common desire in K-12 buildings is to adopt eBook readers as a replacement for costly and heavy printed texts" (Harris, 2012). While stating clear advantages of having this advanced technology in school libraries, Harris also elaborates on the disadvantages. The two disadvantages he mentions are "a lack of e-texts" and "group pricing" (Harris, 2012).
Although he does not explicitly state it, his thought that while e-books can definitely enhance a classroom, they are just not quite ready (Harris, 2012). The article mentions that Nooks and Kindles are "less than ideal for schools" due to the inability to buy multiple copies of the same book (Harris, 2012). One point that I did find extremely interesting is how Harris describes the impact implementing e-readers into schools has for struggling readers. According to Harris (2012), "E-Readers that use E Ink screen . . . have proven highly successful for struggling readers thanks to the single-page display that lets students focus on the present without worrying about the pages to come" (Harris, 2012). He concludes by mentioning that since the efforts of school libraries to find ways to utilize this cool form of technology have aided in more reference and nonfiction material becoming available on e-readers, hopes to broaden the array of fiction available. And to answer our initial question about whether e-books are ready for classroom use, Harris says yes, while acknowledging the drawbacks to implementation.
The contrast between Harris's and Simon's articles is that at the time of Simon's article, e-readers were a relatively new phenomena. It is interesting to see how both writers acknowledge similar disadvantages, indicating that e-readers have not yet evolved to their full potentials. Simon's article gives a no when it comes to the initial question. Harris's article indicates the opposite.
As for me, I would love to have e-readers available in classrooms and school libraries. I think any time we bring in technology, our students are more engaged. Living in the 21st century constitutes getting on board the ever-evolving technology train. In order to ensure learning is maximized, we must find ways to raise the level of engagement in classrooms. Even if a small number, say a single class set, is available for checkout through the school librarian, students would still benefit from its occasional use. The biggest issue I see is cost. While my school district (and my school in particular) are seeking ways to offer more technology, money will still be a factor.
Harris, C. (2012, January 13). Ebooks and school libraries.American Libraries Magazine, Retrieved from http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/features/01132012/ebooks-and-school-libraries
Simon, E. J. (2001, August 27). Are e-books ready for the classroom?. Campus Technology, Retrieved from http://campustechnology.com/Articles/2001/08/Are-eBooks-Ready-for-the-Classroom.aspx?Page=1
