EBOOKS

Alicen Webster

ITEC 7445

Joe Crawford

July 14, 2014

Emerging Technology

EBOOKS

What are eBooks? An eBook or electronic book, is an electronic version of a

printed book that can be read on a computer or handheld devise designed specifically for this purpose.

Why eBooks? Cover all content area or genre Available in many formats and multiple lengths Can open in multiple productivity tools (et. word processor) Available in page-flipping formats Formatted for all types of learners Accessible on the go and in any location Alleviates carrying heavy textbooks that are already out-of-date

by the time they reach the schools

EBOOKS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKEaypYJbb4

Click on the video above to watch a short video on Google eBooks.

Click the link above if clicking on the video doesn’t load.

THE TECHNOLOGY VISION OF BARTOW COUNTY SCHOOLS “Bartow County Schools are committed to the integration of

technology throughout the curriculum.” “Technology is a major need for our system and our use of

technology is not reflective of 21st century classroom needs.”

“Presently, limited integration and access to current technological devices is hampering the potential success of learners in Bartow County. Research indicates that failure to educate students in appropriate use of technology will inhibit their future success. Students need to understand how to use the tools to communicate effectively, to research, and to collaborate, in addition to simply typing a report.”

https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Documents/Bartow%20County/Cass%20Middle%20School.pdf

EBOOKS SUPPORTS OUR TECHNOLOGY VISION

eBooks supports our district’s use of technology because it allows students to access all content area or genres in many formats and multiple lengths without carrying heavy textbooks.

eBooks is a great resource for teachers to efficiently provide content, research, and accessibility in page-flipping formats to all types of learners.

This technology puts the students in control of their learning outside of the classroom by providing resources at home or on the go.

DEMOGRAPHICS FOR USING EMERGING TECHNOLOGY The total population of the district was 80,257 as of 2013. The population distribution by age shows 0-4 years 5,406, 5-

9 years 6,095, 10-14 years 6,193, and 15-17 years 3,695. The race/origin population distribution shows White alone

67,957, Black/African American alone 6,891, American Indian/Alaska Native alone 460, Asian alone 477, Native Hawaiian/OPI alone 63, Other race alone 3,386, Two or more races 1,023, Hispanic/Latino Origin 5,160.

Among the population 3 years and over, school enrollment demographics show a total enrollment of 20,125 that included 995 in preschool, 15,958 in primary and secondary and 3,172 in college.

The median household income was $51,019 compared to $49,604 in Georgia. The percent of families in poverty was 12.9; the percent of all people in poverty was 16.2; the percent of people under 18 years in poverty was 21.4. 

TARGETED POPULATION

eBooks in Bartow County Schools will be used at a K-12 grade level range.

Students, early on, would be introduced to the technology and strategies for use. eBooks would be replacing standard textbooks and assigned readings would be incorporated through the use of the handheld device.

All students would have access to an eBook reader. Appropriate professional development of teachers would

support equitable access and use of technology to ensure technology literacy and support learning.

EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE REQUIRED

Normal web browser (htm/html) Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF files) Microsoft Reader (LIT files) Flip Album Viewer Computers and/or handheld devises

TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT

As part of Bartow County Schools mission of excellence, each school is provided with technology support from the county office technology department.

Support staff is available through itemized tickets requesting assistance from teachers. Furthermore, individual schools have technology teams that are available, by request, for basic troubleshooting.

Librarians are also part of technology teams with a higher level of acquisition. Librarians currently support administrators most often.

FEATURE LIMITATIONS OF EBOOKS

eBooks that require complex formatting features such as comics or magazines are not possible

Books with heavy graphics such as cookbooks or picture books often don’t convert correctly

Formatting and flow of print books are adjusted when they are altered to eBooks, thus features such as footnotes may appear in different places

eBooks with multi-column text, wrap-text, or colored text are not yet available

SOFTWARE LIMITATIONS OF EBOOKS

Publishers don’t use the same universal system for distributing or sharing eBooks

eBooks come in different forms of publishing (ePub, HTML, PDF, etc.)

SAFETY AND HEALTH LIMITATIONS OF EBOOKS

Screen time of adolescents already hinders their activity levels. Providing more accessibility to eBook readers could decrease activity levels even more

“While a common argument for using eBooks is that they are more ecofriendly than paper books, it is worth noting that the computers which contain those eBooks use a tremendous amount of water to produce, and contain toxic chemicals which do not yet have adequate recycling mechanisms in place. In a lot of ways, we are trading one environmental problem (the destruction of forests for pulp) for another (the pollution of our ecosystems with heavy metals).” (Wess, 2011)

COST OF EBOOKS

Standard editions of books and eBooks should be the same. Typically, as of now, eBooks are more expensive but lawsuits involving the Department of Justice (DOJ) are occurring to “price fix” eBooks so that conspiring with publishers is alleviated.

COST OF EBOOKS CONT.

All other overhead remains constant. “First, they still have to pay overhead and employees. Next, you

have the editors. At publishing houses, a single book can have as many as five editors, such as content editors, grammar editors, line editors, character editors and final editors. Then, you have the graphic designer. Any reader will tell you a good cover will make him or her pick up the book. A good graphic designer is necessary; even with e-books, the cover matters. Then you have a marketing department that creates brochures, magazine ads, posters and ads for online markets. Next, you have the tech people who must create the e-book in multiple formats for reading on a multitude of readers. Then, you have to pay a percentage to online outlets such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble for carrying the e-book, which can range as high as 50% of the cover price of the e-book. What's left over pays the author. That author may have an agent who helps him or her gain a large publisher and agents typically take 15 to 20% for their work. With the exception of ink, printing and shipping, the costs incurred are pretty much the same.” (McMaken, 2012)

POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES

System funding funds technology infrastructure updates, monthly professional learning, and hosts technology conference and training on management systems. They also purchase literacy materials to be reviewed and ordered. This could include eBook funding.

Title I/II have already funded Study Island, Dreambox, Zaner-Bloser, & Classworks. Funding for eBooks would be yet another electronic source to be integrated within classrooms for reading and mathematics.

Striving Reader’s Comprehensive Literacy Grant (SRCLG) Funding Project has already enabled Bartow County Schools to provide interactive boards, additional computers in all classrooms, trainings, document cameras, student response systems, as well as providing access to laptops for students. Teachers could learn applications, and how to implement eBooks within their classrooms at the Striving Readers Summer Institute Training

POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES CONT.

LIFE monies have also already been used to purchase interactive boards and tables, laptops, and training in utilization of the new and existing technology. Monies left over could purchase the handheld devices

SPLOFT funding comes from taxes and voting. Local monies goes towards technology when building new schools

Teachers can always write grant proposals through private companies, or through the Bartow Foundation which gives a percentage of money each year to only Bartow classrooms.

Teachers can create a proposal on DonorsChoose.org and if donators choose their emerging technology, funding would be raised by investors.

HOW TEACHERS CAN USE THIS TECHNOLOGY?

Teachers use eBooks to effectively teach students by downloading

relevant text that meets content standards and technology standards

exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society

understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices

continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources.

trained and using technologies in the classroom can positively influence student engagement thus increasing achievement

HOW STUDENTS CAN USE THIS TECHNOLOGY?

Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work

collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.

apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources

understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.

demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations.

HOW EBOOKS PROMOTE LEARNING GOALS

Students become a research-based learner using eBooks to synthesis information

Students can work at their own pace and not feel rushed with material that they are unfamiliar with

Students have accessibility to text at all times, not just while in the classroom

Students can collaborate about the readings in small groups or partner pairings

Students can highlight text, change font size for easier readability, define unfamiliar vocabulary, and search text for key concepts

EBOOKS AND DIFFERENTIATED LEARNING

Since eBooks are electronically downloaded, teachers have the flexibility to differentiate the assigned readings to meet the needs of the individual student.

eBooks can also bridge language gaps for those students who may not speak English fluently

Standards-based stories related to content in science for example, are leveled, and students within flexible groups can read different stories relating to the same content and then jig-saw, collaborate, and share among their peers all gaining slightly different information and perspectives

HOW EBOOKS PROMOTE COMMUNICATION LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY After reading text on the eBooks, students communicate

their acquired knowledge with each other in group discussions, or on discussion forums such as blogs that can be local or global

Students share acquired knowledge from eBooks with their parents around a dinner table, or as they are reading and studying at home at night

Community members consult with students while they are in the classrooms, or could post to discussion boards after eBook reflections are posted

Interacting within blogs connects globally to other students in other countries.

EFFECTIVENESS OF EBOOKS

Most research I found is for the use of eBooks in the classroom setting. Effectiveness using the eBooks seems to outweigh the limitations that go along with this emerging technology. “Follett eBooks are just as effective in the classroom as they are in the

library. They will involve your students in lessons and help them grasp concepts in any subject area. As a group activity, eBooks teach by having students interact with each other and the text itself—highlighting key passages, searching by keyword through the book, finding information with the built-in dictionary and jumping from page to page as they solve problems together.” (Follett, 2014)

Now is the time to get out in front of the digital movement and proactively incorporate new technology into your curriculum so you can avoid having to play catch-up later when it becomes a requirement. (Miller, 2013)

“TTS (Text-To-Speech) have multiple functions that can enhance the learning experience. Some examples include helping students with dyslexia, reading challenges, or visual impairments. It can also reduce eye strain, improve foreign language learning and promote listening skills.” (Long, 2013)

EFFECTIVENESS OF EBOOKS CONT.

“These statistical methods enabled us to reach four conclusions: (1) There was no significant difference in learning effectiveness of e-Books integrated instruction between students of different sexes; (2) There was significant correlation between learning motivation and learning effectiveness of science and technology domain for the experimental group students; (3) There was significant correlation between learning attitudes and learning effectiveness in the science and technology domain for the experimental group students; (4) The experimental group students had a positive attitude toward e-Books integrated instruction. They thought the use of e-Books could enhance learning effectiveness and improve learning motivation.” (Wen, Chuang, & Kuo, 2012)

PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTING EBOOKS

Professional learning day 1 to access eBooks and view different uses and tools available with the device

Professional learning day 2 to be instructed on way to implement eBooks for classroom instruction

Students will spend an instructional day comparing standard textbooks to eBooks, and allowing free time to explore the device

Students will be taught tools such as highlighting, defining, and text-to-speech

Links to eBooks will be uploaded to Blackboard and school websites to maintain easy access to content

The change model will enable students to become familiar with eBooks while using textbooks as a resource, until emerging technology is sufficiently implemented

REFLECTION

There are more tools to eBooks than reading alone.

The limitations surprised me. In a digital and very graphic world, I was surprised that some imaged and graphic features were available.

It will take more training to implement eBooks into classrooms successfully.

This experience improved my personal practice by recognizing the need for sympathy when transitioning to something new.

It also improved my personal practice by validating the community and global involvement when launching an emerging technology.

WORKS CITED

Bartow County School System. (2011). Georgia department of education striving readers comprehensive literacy program. Cartersville, GA: Georgia Department of Education.

Follett Shelf (2014). Ebooks in the classroom. Retrieved from http://www.aboutfollettebooks.com/page/20/eBooks%20in%20the%20Classroom

International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). Iste standards teachers.

J Long. (2013, June 28). 9 benefits of e-books that make them valuable classroom technology. [Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://www.securedgenetworks.com/secure-edge-networks-blog/bid/93400/9-Benefits-of-e-Books-That-Make-Them-Valuable-Classroom-Technology

WORKS CITED CONT.

McMaken, L. (2012). E-books vs. print books. Retrieved from http://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0812/e-books-vs.-print-books.aspx

Miller, H. (2013). The future of ebooks in the classroom . SouthEast Education Network. http://seenmagazine.us/articles/article-detail/articleid/3525/the-future-of-ebooks-in-the-classroom.aspx

Proximity. (2014). Georgia school district demographic profiles. Atlanta, GA: ProximityOne.

Publish Green. (2014). Ebook limitations. Retrieved from https://www.publishgreen.com/ebook-limitations

WORKS CITED CONT.

Wen, J., Chuang, M.K., & Kuo, S. (2012) The learning effectiveness of integrating e-books into elementary school science and technology classes. International Journal of Humanities and Arts Computing, 6. Retrieved from http://www.euppublishing.com/doi/abs/10.3366/ijhac.2012.0051

D Wees. (2011, May 26). Some problems with ebooks in schools. [Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://davidwees.com/content/some-problems-ebooks-schools

Writers Exchange E-Publishing (2014). What are ebooks and ebook readers? (and software required downloads). Retrieved from http://www.writers-exchange.com/Page3.html