tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post2437880054120772..comments2024-03-29T06:57:49.917-04:00Comments on Lisa Nielsen: The Innovative Educator: Shed the Paper and Allow Books to Grow their Digital WingsLisa Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-9602631444390367882010-01-16T10:34:38.815-05:002010-01-16T10:34:38.815-05:00Readers of this post will be interested in Free eB...Readers of this post will be interested in Free eBooks for Your PC, iPhone, Kindle & Beyond - http://www.openculture.com/2009/12/free_ebooks_for_your_pc_iphone_kindle_beyond.htmlLisa Nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-84874459205002958702009-12-11T00:18:13.204-05:002009-12-11T00:18:13.204-05:00I fully admit that I am in the over 35 set that lo...I fully admit that I am in the over 35 set that loves her paper-based books, but I am also a big proponent of technology. Despite my love of technology I have reservations about "giving books digital wings." I do like the idea about being able to have several books on the go at one time, in one reader, especially those weighty textbooks, but I am not yet comfortable with the idea of replacing all paper with screened technology, especially for younger students.<br /><br />I've recently become concerned about the use of screens with young children. My own son, at age 4, does not have 20/20 vision. This came as a surprise to me and the other adults in our lives. My optometrist on the other hand was not surprised at all. She informed me that they are seeing more and younger children requiring corrective measures for their eyes due to all the screen time they have in today's society. I was told that TV is probably one of the best of the worst in so far as eye health!<br /><br />The problem she says is that viewing a screen is three dimensional work for the eye, where reading off paper is not. It's easier on the eye. Also, young children often hold the screens very close to their faces, when they should be, used no closer than "lap distance" (when they are sitting up properly the screen should be on their lap, not inches from their face). Young children also do not understand that they need to give their eyes a break very frequently and will fixedly stare at what they are doing. Where adults, on the other hand, will tend to do so quite naturally.<br /><br />Think about all the screens they have access to during the day or week. The toy laptop, phone, blackberry, Leapster, Nintento DS, iPod Touch, cell phones, DVD players in cars, XBox, Wii, Playstation, Video monitors in stores and banks, TV and computers. The list is actually even longer I'm sure.<br /><br />My optometrist told me that the muscles of the eye are not fully developed until the early teens and my own son's vision should be able to be corrected by enforcing the "rules" limiting the exposure to screen time. I'm not about to hand him an e-reader any time soon.lnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01078969180906104795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-56437551091740779792009-12-09T16:21:38.005-05:002009-12-09T16:21:38.005-05:00The times are definitely changing Leslie and I thi...The times are definitely changing Leslie and I think it's imperative that classroom instruction change, adapt, progress to reflect the realities of today. Although I see the benefit of having a hard copy magazine, newspaper or book the reality is that like the dinosaurs they too will be extinct. It may be sooner than I think. My kids are growing up in a digital world and the bigger questions educators ought to be asking themselves is,"Why am I teaching this and why am I teaching it this way?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-868937871785655862009-12-07T21:37:10.839-05:002009-12-07T21:37:10.839-05:00Like everything else in life, the times they are a...Like everything else in life, the times they are a changing. I believe like the way of vinyl records books will eventually be digital. I'm not so sure if this is a "techie" thing but more of convenience and an outgrowth of the times. Kids don't learn the same way we did and we can't teach them that same old way. The important thing is that kids need to read and I don't care the way the content is delivered, as long as it's delivered.LeslieShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03128070473362999976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-20582158163350630582009-12-07T18:57:04.738-05:002009-12-07T18:57:04.738-05:00@caro488, in all fairness water is not so good for...@caro488, in all fairness water is not so good for paper books either. <br /><br />Thank you for the humorous reflection :^DLisa Nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-34550896920677621532009-12-07T18:35:15.652-05:002009-12-07T18:35:15.652-05:00Well, I like to read in the tub...
not so good for...Well, I like to read in the tub...<br />not so good for digital books<br /><br />caro488caro488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-18638578068873824062009-12-06T23:09:52.466-05:002009-12-06T23:09:52.466-05:00Sharon, I agree with picking the tech that meets y...Sharon, I agree with picking the tech that meets your purpose but I am concerned that educators are not fully aware of the advantages that certain technologies provide and I am also concerned that teachers are making choices for students that may differ from what works better for the student. Shawn Gross said it well when he shared, digital is better for the environment, the economy and the student. I know paper is what educators are used to, but is it better? You talk about free books available from public libraries, but we know this isn’t the best option as the hours and resources of libraries are scarce. These same books can now or soon be secured digitally though as libraries move in that direction. I agree with you. This will be interesting to watch.Lisa Nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-26981723896118705122009-12-06T22:55:41.420-05:002009-12-06T22:55:41.420-05:00Hi Anonymous, I don't know what city you are i...Hi Anonymous, I don't know what city you are in or if you have access to your school's budget, but I'm proposing that we actually spend less money by reallocating funds away from the texts, paper, copying, and to the digital. I'm proposing that this will ultimately cost much less the the old fashioned ways of doing things. A netbook or iTouch is about $300, last five years and provides students with access to thousands of materials and ability to authentically publish information. This translates into about $60 a year. A huge savings. <br /><br />Individual teachers can begin this work themselves by writing grants or simple proposals to donors choose. They can also reach out to businesses to donate equipment. <br /><br />When I was a teacher, literacy coach, and librarian I personally got tens of thousands of dollars of equipment. The money is there...esp for inner-city schools. Teachers need to 1) go after it. 2) Encourage students to use the tools they may already have (you might be surprised).<br /><br />Schools can start small...one classroom at a time, but start. If you are interested, write a proposal for donors choose to get started and let me know. I'll contribute to your cause and even allow you to contribute a guest blog post about what it is you are trying to raise funds for.<br /><br />Interested innovative educators can take the charge one classroom at a time, and I'll help with a forum to share and contribute.Lisa Nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-82424066368116929382009-12-06T22:30:51.095-05:002009-12-06T22:30:51.095-05:00Naomi, this is a very mind-provoking article. I t...Naomi, this is a very mind-provoking article. I think you make some great points about the advantages of digital reading. Being able to highlight, comment and share are more easily done with digital text. I do, however, think we need to keep in mind that you need to pick the "technology" that best meets your purpose. If I want to read a book purely for enjoyment, then a paper book will meet that need. Could I enjoy a book on a digital reader? I am sure I could, but a paper book works just fine for that. Perhaps it is because I grew up with paper books. Perhaps our young students will grow up not reading as many paper books. My children, 13 and 17, are avid readers of books for enjoyment. That is what is available in our school and public libraries for free. Perhaps when more people have technologies for mobile reading and libraries have digital books for checkout, digital books could take over. It will be an interesting trend to watch.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13932130725982310633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-5984532970454994202009-12-06T22:26:30.510-05:002009-12-06T22:26:30.510-05:00I am not disagreeing with you, but I teach at an e...I am not disagreeing with you, but I teach at an elementary, inner-city school where most students do not have internet, computers, cell phones or hand-held devices. School district regulations do not allow us to require students to provide anything beyond very basic school supplies ( scissors are not considered basic so we must provide them). How do you propose schools like mine provide/fund the level of technology you suggest, so that each student has equal opportunity- particularly districts who are in the red?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com