Journal #9: "Reading Redefined for a Transmedia Universe" by Annette Lamb NETS-T V

Lamb, A. (2011). Reading redefined for a transmedia universe. Learning and Leading With Technology, 39(3), 12-17. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-november-2011.aspx


This article helps me as an educator to evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning.


Summary:  Reading has evolved just as technology has. "Once upon a time, reading was as simple and straightforward as decoding words on a page. No more. Digital age technologies have made such an impact on the way we interact with content that the old definitions of reading and books no longer apply." This article discusses further advancements being made involving reading. Readers now have several different high tech tools they can use at their leisure for such reading purposes. These tools include ebooks such as Kindle, Nook, and iPad. These tools have made owning a large collection of books as simple as purchasing and downloading and storing it to the device. Readers can carry around thousands of books in just a little hand held computer. Lamb pointed out in her article that with these devices readers can highlights and enlarger text, bookmark exactly where they left off, and look up any unknown or unfamiliar words with access to a dictionary on the same device. I have been on the market for such a device and have concluded that I want an iPad, actually I need an iPad so that I can use it in my scholarly efforts to further my education as well as for its broad amount of educational applications.


Question #1: How necessary is it for teachers to have technology tools such as an iPad or kindle?


The digital equivalent has an equal promise in revolutionizing both teaching and learning activities. Teachers can have instructional support, literally at their fingertips, in the learning environment. In fact, David Stevenson of Wireless Generation says that 7-inch tablets are perfect tools for classroom teachers. Students can also be empowered with individualized instruction, think Teacher-mates on steroids.


Question #2: What is an ebook?
An electronic book variously, e-book, ebook, or digital book is a book-length publication in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, and produced on, published through, and readable on computers or other electronic devices. Sometimes the equivalent of a conventional printed book, e-books can also be born digital. The Oxford Dictionary of English defines the e-book as "an electronic version of a printed book," but e-books can and do exist without any printed equivalent. E-books are usually read on dedicated e-book readers. Personal computers and some smart mobile phones can also be used to read e-books.