eBooks in Schools

These days, bookstores and newspapers appear to be disappearing as actual printed text on paper is being replaced by eBooks or a quick download on one’s internet home page.  Do you think paper books are a thing of the past? 

While digital forms of media are becoming more prevalent, I do not believe paper books will disappear completely. I admit I am a huge fan of digital textbooks, online newspapers, and eBooks. Newspapers and textbooks might go completely digital, but reading books will not. Using an e-reader when traveling is extremely convenient. But, I still need to have real books when I am reading at home, I want a real book. 

Many people still prefer paper books, and I do not believe that is going to change. According to Julia Glum of the International Business Times, “For teenagers, print, amazingly, isn't dead. The generation known for staying digitally connected at all times prefers to buy and read physical books over digital ones, according to a Nielsen study released last week” (Glum, 2014). Paper books have been around for a very long time, and I do not see them leaving anytime soon.

How will the move towards online text change what we do in schools or how we select the books we read?

I believe that the move toward digital text will have a profound effect on schools. I feel textbooks will become digital. Students have always needed to tote around several big, heavy books. The switch to digital will eliminate that problem. All the students’ textbooks can go on small devices they can put in their pockets.

Libraries will need to have a larger media section. When ordering books, they will need to have a large selection of eBooks. Students need to have access to digital books that they can use for research and for fun reading. Libraries will still need to purchase physical books as well. As I stated before, students still prefer real books over digital books. They need to have access to all types of books and media in order to get the best education possible.

Another trend we are seeing in this digital age is online schools. Many colleges provide online classes, and some high schools have also gone digital. These schools need to provide all books, magazines, and news articles in digital form. Online school libraries have all of these available for their students.

References:

Glum, Julia (2014). Books vs. E-Books: Teens' Print Preferences Make Publishing Industry's Future Hard To Predict. International Business Times. Retrieve at: http://www.ibtimes.com/books-vs-e-books-teens-print-preferences-make-publishing-industrys-future-hard-1758531

Meaning in Reading Instruction

It is very important for students to have meaning in what they are learning. According to David Sousa and Carol Ann Tomlinson, two experts in educational neuroscience, “the brain’s neural networks are constantly seeking and creating patterns. They do so by analyzing new input to determine if it has some meaningful connection with information already stored in the network” (Sousa & Tomlinson, 2011, p. 48). This means that the best way for students to learn something is if it connected to something they already know. Meaning can be anything from interests to cultural connections. Finding out what the students enjoy, and giving them reading material on that topic. Also, an age appropriate book about a child’s heritage can catch their interest and make them more likely to retain what they are learning.

I think that both the analytic approach and the synthetic approach to phonics are important to prepare students for becoming readers. In the synthetic approach, students learn letters and the sounds associated with those letters (Roe & Smith, 2012). I believe students need to know the basic sounds that letters make and how they blend to create words. In the analytic approach, how letters sound in context of a word. For example, the students learn that the beginning sound in the word dog is the D sound (Roe & Smith, 2012). I feel the analytic approach can help children learn blending and rhyming. Both sets of skills are needed for students to become proficient readers.

My teaching approach is a combination of specific skill instruction and a more holistic approach. I feel it is important to start developing a child’s reading skills with teaching instruction in phonics. Students need the basics before they can start strengthening their skills through meaningful materials. Once the basics are done, then my approach becomes more holistic.  “Holistic education is concerned with connections in human experience—connections between mind and body, between linear thinking and intuitive ways of knowing, between academic disciplines, between the individual and the community” (Swaffar, N.D., p. 2). Teaching by using meaningful connections between students and the lessons helps the student retain more of what they are learning. Differentiation is very important to me, and I feel it is necessary to make sure my students will learn effectively.

   

References:

Roe, B. & Smith, S. (2012).Teaching reading in today’s elementary schools (11th ed.). Wadworth Cengage Learning: Belmont, CA.

Sousa, D. A. and Tomlinson, C. A. (2011). Differentiation and the brain: How neuroscience supports the learner-friendly classroom. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.

Swaffar, Janet (N.D.). Lesson 1: What is Reading? Retrieved at: http://coerll.utexas.edu/methods/modules/reading/01/holistic.php

Finding that One Book!

Books are more than just ways to get information. They can also be a source of endless enjoyment. For some students, reading can be difficult, and they do not see the value of a good book. As teachers, we need to guide students to that one perfect book that awakens their imagination.

There are many books that have influenced me, starting with Little Golden Books: fairy tales. I first started to love reading when read about Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella. Sleeping Beauty was my favorite. I loved the fairies and the magic. Fantasies are still my favorites. I loved losing myself in the magical lands that these stories took place. I wanted to go there someday. 

            Finding a child’s special book can take some time, but it is out there. The best way to start is to figure out the student’s reading level. When reading for enjoyment, you do not want a book that is too difficult. It will only cause frustration. In order for a book to appeal to a child, it needs to be interesting to that child. Finding out what the student likes and dislikes will make it possible to find a book that can capture the student’s attention.

            Reading is the most important skill a child must learn. Reading is how we get most of our information. It is also a great source of entertainment. All students need to be encouraged to find reading material that excites them. It is the only way they will ever become life-long readers. Teachers need to find books that appeal to their students’ interests, if they want their students to be successful.

My Opinion on a Teaching Scenario

The scenario is a teacher, Ms. Grant, turns down her student’s request for instruction on taking notes. Ms. Grant told her student that she can’t teach that because this is science class. My reaction to Ms. Grant’s reply was anger. A teacher’s job is to give their students all of the tools needed to complete an assignment. This student was asking for instructions and denied. How can this teacher expect her students to complete a task without the knowledge needed to perform all of the steps. I understand that note-taking is taught in reading class, but if Ms. Grant is expects the students to learn her lessons, she needs to give them at least an overview of note-taking so they can succeed.

           

If my student asked me “how to take notes,” I would give a brief explanation of proper note-taking, and then get back to the lesson. In my opinion, when a student asks how to do something, it is the teacher’s job to educate the student. I would not be able to turn my back on a student in need just because the question is not part of my subject. The question was not off base and pertained to the assignment. I would feel obligated to educate my student.

I feel it is important to explain the basics of note-taking. If students do not know how to take notes properly, then they will be ill equipped to complete the assignment. When students ask questions, they are looking for instruction, which is what a teacher is supposed to provide. Teachers need to give their students every tool they will need if they want the children to learn.

I realize teachers are on a tight schedule, and adding something that is not in their curriculum can make it difficult to complete everything. However, it is better to take a few moments to help the students learn to take notes on lessons than it is to repeat the information over and over again because the students don’t remember. Teaching the students the basics will help them do better in class and on tests. That is the goal of a tea

Evaluating and Organizing Credible Resources

This week we learned how to evaluate information for credibility, and then organize the information into a format that makes it easier for the audience to understand.

When evaluating information, you must check for accuracy, and that the information is verifiable. My son is studying to be a reporter, and he and I are amazed at how many news articles are unconfirmed and inaccurate.  If you cannot affirm the information is factual, then the information is useless. Checking the qualifications of the author can help you determine the validity of the information. Authors should be experts in the field, and should be evaluated by a group of their peers. I am quite proficient in checking and re-checking my information to guarantee it is accurate and usable.

             Organization is key to presenting information in a way that looks professional and people will understand. APA format is the way I have been asked to present my information. It is a clean presentation, and easy to understand. However, it can sometimes be confusing to put the information into this format. I think this is my biggest weakness when it comes to organizing papers. I also struggle with layout when presenting graphics within a document. I don’t understand why, but my charts and graphs do not always appear in the finished product the way I designed them. 

            

Boolean Operators & Other Helpful Tools to Aid in Research

This week I learned a great deal about how to search for information. Google has several great tutorials on how to search the web.  I am constantly doing research, and these tips will save me a lot of time. I have chosen a few to discuss below, but I think they are all beneficial, and all students should check them out.

            First let’s look at Boolean Operators. These are symbols or words that can broaden or narrow the search as needed. I knew of the basic ones, “and” “or,” and “not.” What I did not know is there are several symbols that can also affect your search results. These shortcuts help save time and energy.  

One of the biggest time savers I learned is Keywords. I always thought that to get the best results, you needed to use complete sentences. I know a lot of people make the same mistake I have made in the past. A few key words are all it takes to get accurate results. Also, capitalization and punctuation are unnecessary.

            Google has a feature that allows you to search for a specific media type. If you want to use only news sources, then you search through the news media type. If you want to include a video source, you can search through the videos to find the one you are looking for.

            These are some of the information that was knew to me. I learned a lot of great pointers to make my research time more efficient. I highly recommend these tutorials to anyone who wants to learn how to find information quicker and easier. I've included a link to some of these tutorials below.

References:

Google. (n.d.). Basic Search Education Lesson Plans. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/gwebsearcheducation/lessonplans

Google. (n.d.). Understanding Search Engines: What Is The Web? Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dcbsfbvq_1fqxzphfm

Google. (n.d.). Understanding Search Engines: Google Landing. Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dcbsfbvq_3g56xgggb 

Google. (n.d.). Understanding Search Engines: The Keys To Search City.  Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dcbsfbvq_6ggcb3ncb 

Google. (n.d.). Search Techniques & Strategies: Which Link Should I Follow? Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dcbsfbvq_9tqwd32gb 

Google. (n.d.). Search Techniques & Strategies: Mixed Media. Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dcbsfbvq_0hmqhsvdz 

Google. (n.d.). Search Techniques & Strategies: Believe It or Not. Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dcbsfbvq_13cgb55gj9 

Google. (n.d.). Features & Operators: Hello Operators. Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dcbsfbvq_15cd6mwkfm

Google. (n.d.). Features & Operators: Quick Finds. Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dcbsfbvq_17scdcf4fd 

Google. (n.d.). Features & Operators: Slicing & Dicing. Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dcbsfbvq_19ch9gxvgc

Steps for Effective Research

When I started my class on research, I thought it would be easy. I have been doing research projects for years, so this should be no problem. Boy was I wrong. There are so many resources that I never even thought of looking for. I think I need a lot of work if I am going to become a more effective researcher.

Step one is to determine the purpose and the audience of the piece. I don’t always worry about the purpose. When writing about controversial issues, I often write about what side I am on, and only briefly mention the opposing side. The problem, to be effective, I need to cover both sides of the issue in depth. Formatting can also be a problem for me. I am just learning the different formats, and sometimes, I make mistakes. Luckily, there are instructional videos and websites that I can use to perfect the formatting.

Step two is creating a research strategy for the project at hand. I start with an outline, and use the internet to find resources. I thought I was effective in this area, but I seem to be lacking. The purpose of a research strategy is to “avoid wasting time and wandering aimlessly through the massive amounts of information available” (Solomon & Taylor, 2012, pg.24).  I tend to wander quite a bit when researching. I need to be more focused in my searches.

Step three is my evaluating information. This is one area I am good at. I always check my information for accuracy and relevance. My son is studying journalism, and we have discussed the importance of fact checking when writing anything. I do sometimes forget to check for bias, so I do need to work on that. This is the easiest step for me because it has become like second nature to me.

Step four is organization. Once all the information is gathered, it is time to put the paper together. This is where the main ideas of the paragraphs are determined and then put the proper information to support these ideas. I am fairly good at organizing information into proper order so that it makes sense and is orderly.

The final step is communicating the information to others. This is where knowing your audience is important. If you are presenting information in a formal setting, you don’t want the presentation to be informal. You also need to determine how you will present the information. I prefer written, but that is not always the best way to present information. I feel I have a good grasp on communication.

As you can see, I still have a great deal of work to become a great researcher. I am hoping I will become more efficient as I continue my schooling.

References:

Solomon, A., Wilson, G., & Taylor, T. (2012). 100% Information literacy success (2nd ed.). Wadsworth: Cengage Learning.