Brian Selznick, author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, continues to amaze me. His new book, Wonderstruck, tells the story of two people and their journeys, through life, towards acceptance, awareness and understanding. The beauty of Selznick's work lies in his ability to combine traditional storytelling with graphic storytelling in one book.
Wonderstruck is the story of Ben, a boy longing for a father he has never known, and Rose, a girl longing for a mother who was never around. Their lives are chronicled in words (Ben) and images (Rose). I absolutely refuse to give away the story or the ending of the book other than to warn you to enjoy the artwork and the wonderful twists.
Wonderstruck, and Selznick's other works, are appropriate for ALL ages.
This is actually a true story, odd, so bear with me.
I was reading the CDC website about their Vegetable of the Month...yes, odd, but an entirely different story. March is the month of the Leek, nothing quite as nice as a bowl of potato and leek soup...particularly during St. Patrick's Day celebrations. The leek is an excellent source of vitamin A which is key to not only healthy skin but to a healthy retina important for low light vision.
Low light vision brings me to several conversations I have had about purchasing/implementing Kindles in the library and in the classroom. First, I always recommend the cheap Kindles, hence the "low-light" vision thought. Second, DON'T purchase them at this point unless you are doing a trial run. The issue is Amazon, not ebooks.
[As a side note, if you are looking at Kindle Fires for professional uses, buy an iPad instead. Kindles Fires are awesome--my wife has one--for book/video/email/websurfing--media consumption. But I think they are not creative or dynamic enough for professional use.]
Which brings me to the real crux of the conversation... Ebooks or "real" books?
One year ago, I would swear by the experience of reading a "real" (as in print) book. I was born as a librarian. I love libraries, books, information, collecting, even the "grandma's basement" smell of old, well-loved books. "You will never convince me to read an ebook" I have said on many occasions to many friends.
This August I purchased an iPad to better facilitate my new mobile professional activities...and to play. I lasted 3 months before I broke down to read my first ebook on IBooks (it's a must-have). Now, sadly, I won't read anything BUT an ebook, unless I can't find the book I want for free or a reasonable price. Then I wait.
As a librarian, this mentality will put me out of business!
Ebooks are now my preferred method of reading. The ability to have my entire reading library in one place is dynamic and thrilling. I can purchase new books, download the classics for free, add any textbooks or PDF documents I want for later, and create my own books. I also read faster, up to 3 books a week from 1.5 with print.
As a reader, does it really matter whether the book is print, digital or audio? A great book is still a great book. You just need to find a niche and read.
I've been putting together a variety of resources for professional and classroom use and thought I share the link to the site. I like these sites, iOS or Chrome apps and other tools very much and their applicability is quite diverse.
I encourage you to check the Web 2.0 section out in particular. There are many great tools listed and I am adding daily. I would recommend playing with arcGIS (either as an app or a website)...it calculates the square area, perimeter, etc...using satellite photos. Amazing!
Please feel free to contact me if you need help. I would love to collaborate and work with your classes.
I would also LOVE suggestions and tools that you use that I don't have listed. Please feel free to leave comments or email me.
One of my awesome colleagues gave me a Google Chromebook to experiment with a couple of weeks ago. Chromebooks are an entirely interesting departure from the traditional laptop, one that I thought I should share...or at least share in context to some current trends in technology in education.
(cue 2001: A Space Odyssey theme song)
Devices at School...So, what do we buy (or use)?
It seems to be the hot button issue in our current instructional technology-integrate now educational environment that students need access to computers every day in meaningful and relevant ways. In other words, the days of walking to the computer lab are grudgingly coming to an end. Wireless and remote access is here to stay (yeah!), but how do we accommodate for having devices within our classrooms and what devices are we really talking about?
To be honest, I don't have a solid opinion yet, but I can give a brief comparison of pros and cons to get us started on making educated decisions.
Since desktops are becoming obsolete for normal users (yes, they are in fact), laptops and netbooks are becoming the computer of choice. Laptops take the "heavy computing" load...specialized programs, photoediting/moviemaking, Itunes, gaming... They have the CD/DVD drive, multiple USB ports for accessories and the ability to connect directly to a projector or flat-screen TV and are mobile. They also have excellent screen size, integrated camera and microphone and a full-sized keyboard.
CONS
Relatively heavy compared to other devices, laptops still have the same virus and security issues as desktops, tend to slow way down over time due to a number of factors and need updates and "cleaning" to remain functional and efficient. My major complaint with laptops is that after 2-3 years, they are relatively out of date. You also get what you pay for...cheaper laptops are, well, cheaper. Great laptops like Macbooks are over $1000.
Netbooks
PROS
The mini-me of the laptop world. Fully functional computing in a highly mobile package! Small, lightweight, great storage and relatively inexpensive compared to other options. You can get the same or similar programs on netbooks that you can on laptops, provided you have an external DVD/CD or can download them.
CONS
No DVD/CD drive presents challenges when installing software and the small screen size and keyboard makes typing and viewing "interesting" for us older users. Netbooks have similar security and virus concerns that laptops do.
Tablets
PROS
Tablets (iPads, Galaxy Tab, Kindle Fire...) are the consummate media consumption device, lots of apps to do all sorts of things, touch screen, easy for all ages to manipulate and use effectively. Tablets are truly a multiple use device limited only to your own imagination...ebook reading, movie viewing, emailing, videochating, web surfing, photoediting/moviemaking, gaming, etc...If you can find an app for it, there really is not limit. Tablets also come with the ability to connect to cellular service (3G) so access anywhere, anytime is possible.
CONS
If you can find an app for it...
Tablets are not really meant for heavy computing, regardless of what people might tell you. For example, typing an lengthy report, with graphics and charts embedded into it is a challenge as is creating spreadsheets and other work-related documents. Price is also a consideration.
Chromebooks
Back to my original conversation...Chromebooks are an interesting blend of tablet and laptop. Chromebooks, as the name implies, are Google products that run the Chrome operating system (also available for laptops). The Chrome OS is entirely web-based relying on the beauty of Web2.0 tools and web apps for productivity and entertainment.
PROS
Super fast startup time...8 seconds...and shutdown time. The inability to install software on a chromebook makes virus and security software irrelevant. Viruses and malware cannot install themselves on a chromebook ensuring dynamic internet speed, as the does the lack of internal storage space. Chromebooks also have full keyboards and a wide selection of apps from which to choose.
CONS
While there are apps for most of our daily needs (like word processing), chromebooks require you to find "work arounds" for many other tasks...like video/photoediting. The other real downfall of the chromebook is that it requires Wi-Fi connection to work.
FOR A DEMO of a chromebook, let me know.
My Uses
For work, I use a Chromebook almost exclusively.
For enjoyment, to check my email, read a book, etc... I use my iPad.
I bought a relatively expensive SLR camera several years ago, particularly to take pictures and videos of my kids playing sports. While the quality of both video and digital photos is still high quality with this camera, I find myself "forgetting" to take it to events. Why is this?
More and more, single use devices, like cameras, are falling by the wayside for "normal" users. By normal, I mean people who are not photographers or photography enthusiasts. So much easier to bring an IPhone, IPad or Android phone to events to take photos or video. Consider the functionality:
Instant photos/videos
Relatively good quality...around the 8MP range for camera phones
Instant upload to YouTube, Facebook, etc...
Convenient size for purse or pockets
Multi-use devices
I am finding myself investing more and more time in learning how to use my IPad and my wife's IPhone in creative and interesting ways, exploring apps, finding places to take interesting pictures and videos. In this process, I am actually taking MORE pictures of my kids than I was with a regular camera.
Some helpful tools that I am exploring for personal and professional uses:
Just like the awesome desktop version, IMovie lets you make quick and easy movies on the IPad or IPhone, adding music, narration and effects with a short learning curve. Also allows you to edit your videos quickly and efficiently and share online through YouTube, Facebook and others.
Sonic Pics allows you to create and edit your photos, putting them into a dynamic slideshow. Add narration and effects to create a video documentary! Slides are also exportable in m4v format for viewing in Itunes or other Apple device.
POW! Use photos from your phone, IPad or downloaded from Facebook to create stunning digital comic strips. Add features and fonts, captions and word bubbles
The applications for classroom use of these apps are virtually limitless.
