Comparing eReaders and Tablets is not a fair contest. I would never recommend anyone purchase an eReader. Let's explore why:
What can you do on an eReader?
- Read digital textbooks
- Browse the internet, sometimes when it isn't slow
- That's about it...
What can you do with a tablet?
- Read digital textbooks
- Browse the internet, at a respectable speed
- Download apps
- Listen to music
- Watch videos
- Consume, create, and share content (big point)
- list goes on...
My opinion and view is that anything you can do on an eReader, you can do that and more with a tablet. The comparison I would make here is that of a bike and a car. Sure the bike will get you from point A to point B, but you can only go by yourself and it will take you forever. In a car, not only can you get from point A to point B, but you can get there quicker, listen to music on the way, take friends, etc.. Another good comparison is the flip phone and smart phone.
Why would schools and universities limit their students capabilities by having them use eReaders as opposed to tablets? Tablets allow students to consume content, create content, and share content. Devices for students now need to be a 2 way street and allow for more creation, collaboration, and a deeper learning and knowledge.
Why would schools and universities limit their students capabilities by having them use eReaders as opposed to tablets? Tablets allow students to consume content, create content, and share content. Devices for students now need to be a 2 way street and allow for more creation, collaboration, and a deeper learning and knowledge.
Christian brings up some excellent points. I do prefer reading on an eReader, however, with the new kindle cloud reader app, it is a "no-brainer." I love the eReader app on my device, the ability to utilize the notes and the dictionary, as well as highlighting is fantastic. When you combine that with other apps like EVERNOTE, you can share, and sync up with classes on notes, its great. The collaboration and sharing component are critical in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteNow, the "old school" in me still loves to hold a book in my hand at the beach, or curled up in bed, or sitting in my living room. As a student though, i prefer the digital capabilities of a reader, or a tablet.
Both articles were very interesting, and the ideas from the project analysis were excellent, such as using apps as a reward for kids to use in class, finding simple guidelines to utilize the tablets for real world applications and collaborating. It lead me to using Evernote this past week, and I love that app, and cannot wait to use it more!
I think that Andy made a good point about the collaborative solutions that tablets can offer over eReaders. I think that apps such as Kindle have really made it easy to use any device as well as making it a valuable educational tool. I can sign onto Kindle on many different devices and no matter where I sign in on it knows where I was last due to its syncing abilities.
DeleteI also am a big Evernote user. In fact, my wife and I will use it as a shopping list and share that between each other. Sadly, I had never really considered the educational implications of the app since I used it mostly for personal reasons and not educational reasons. However, I think of the possibilities Evernote gives us with BYOD. For example, if we are typing notes in class on our devices and a student is absent, another student would very easily be able to share his or her notes with that student. Another option would be if a group was doing a research project, they could collaborate through Evernote as they were finding their research. I believe that there are many possibilities with apps like Evernote and that it could be a very useful tool to both students and teachers.
I like the input Andy provided with preferring to the "old-fashioned" way of reading from a book, depending on location, etc. While the new technologies and devices have their benefits, I think it's important to not have a "one size fits all" mindset. There may be some students, specifically special needs students, where these devices do not work or a specific device does not work. This is just one more tool used to differentiate each students' education.
DeleteI think Dion makes a good point with the comment about using Evernote for groceries. I did a quick inventory on my phone and tablet and found countless apps that I use to make my life easier, yet never considered how to apply them to the classroom setting. The articles and the class is forcing me to reconsider apps, tables, and ways to utilize them more efficiently for academic use.
DeleteI too would love to start using Evernote in the classroom! The possibilities are endless! Check out this article I found on Evernote in the classroom. It's a great resource!
Deletehttp://blog.evernote.com/blog/2011/01/13/10-tips-for-teachers-using-evernote-education-series/
Christian makes some very good points about how tablets and devices that we are using today will not be as interesting to our students in the future. They will have grown up with these devices their whole life. Therefore, Christian's point about the content being delivered in a meaningful and engaging manner is still important. While technology is great it is only a tool as the teacher is still the one who engages the student with the way in which they present the material.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that the battle between the eReader and the tablet is over and has been for some time. The tablet can do many more things than the eReader can and the price point, depending on which brand you get, is not really that far away. The being said, I do still see a use for the eReader. The eReader is typical lighter, thinner and easier to hold up for extended periods of time. Being able to hold it for hours is very important to some readers. From the education side, the eReader is also less tempting to do other things with in the classroom when reading is the goal. My mom, who is a Reading Specialist uses some Nooks in her class. She tells me that the students really want to use them over reading a book but do not have that temptation to go to other places. I should note that my mom teaches in an urban district where most of these students truly do not have any technology. Therefore, the fact that they don't have technology means almost anything with technology would be exciting for them. Overall, I do think that tablets are absolutely the way to go and when purchasing my next device I will not even be considering the eReader.
I wholeheartedly agree that tablets are the way to go over eReaders, but I still don't think you can count out the eReader. Here is why. First, they are designed to do one thing...that is read a book. The LCD displays used by tablets can strain the eyes and often times have a glare, but E-Ink that is used by eReaders is a lot more clear and there is virtually no glare. When Dion mentioned prices; sure, you can get an eReader and a tablet for virtually the same price, but the performance of the tablet won't be that great for the lower end models. I do think that excellent tablets will get cheaper and cheaper though as technology increases and the market becomes more saturated. Another possible positive for using an eReader in the classroom would be for the simple fact that it is designed to read a book, not surf the web and download apps. Sure, you can surf the web, but once again the performace won't be the same as it would with a nice tablet and that could be a deterrent for students to use the eReader in appropriate in class. I do have to say, as I have said before, the device itself won't keep students from doing what they aren't supposed to do in class. That is on the teacher and their ability to implement engaging lessons with purposeful strategies for utilizing mobile devices such as eReaders and tablets in the classroom. While the above mentioned pro's of the eReader are all legit, I go back to what I said and what Dion and Andy both mentioned. The pros of a tablet greatly out weigh the pros of an eReader.
ReplyDeleteAs reading Christian's post, the first thing that stuck out to me was the statement he made about the novelty of students using their own devices in the classroom. I actually just implemented BYOD last week in my classroom. After using their devices throughout the classroom I had my student reflect on their experiences and sure enough they all commented on how using their devices enhanced their learning experience but I also question how long will this last?
ReplyDeleteIn the debate of tablets versus ereaders, I am team tablet. Tablets have obvious benefits but I do feel ereaders should not be disregarded. Although I would choose for my students to have a tablet over an ereader but if it is an ereader versus no device I would choose the ereader. In my recent trails with BYOD we did run into more problems with the ereaders than any other device. With that being said companies have made advances in the technology in ereaders. Also I know that the cost of ereaders is typically a lot lower than those of tablets.
I would argue that the novelty of using a tablet has already passed. Many students in the high school setting are already utilizing tablets, phones, and personal laptops on a daily basis. Many of these kids have grown up on technology and the use of these devices are second nature. They can produce quality work much more efficiently than in a traditional format. I think the novelty lies more with the the teachers trying to find ways to incorporate this new medium into tradition classes.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the argument between the Ereader and tablet, I have to agree that the tablet far outperforms the Ereader.
I agree that the novelty of using technology and more specifically tablets will be passed after the next few years if not already as Ben stated. Many students are trying to 'one up' each other with what type of device they use/own.
DeleteI completely am on board with team tablet! Why restrict kids to using only ereaders when so much more potential lies in the use of tablets? However, I definitely see the potential of an ereader, but a tablet opens up so many more possibilities. The novelty at the middle school still is there, but I can see how BYOD will one day no longer be the "next big thing". Still, apple and android are developing new apps every day, and there will always be the novelty of a new app! Technology is constantly evolving.
ReplyDeleteTo piggy back on Andy, I would love to start using Evernote more, too! There is definitely potential for Evernote in the classroom. I see potential with research projects, collaboration, and lab analysis!
I am looking forward to learning more about how these tablets can enable my students to create more and be able to save and share their work. That is one of my big dilemmas with using technology in my classroom, is that we can create something but not always save it correctly/accurately and have it be there to continue work on at a later date. Sometimes the students getting exposed to the variety of technology is important but in order to use these different types of technology to produce an end product...seems a little bit of a struggle.
ReplyDeleteTo go on what Andy & Kara about Evernote... I would also like to explore the options there as well... I saw briefly that there is a way to document/snapshot images or save pics to a file/space so that you can access them later.... I would love to see about using this as a digital sketchbook for my art classes...that they can use for reference images and also brainstorming of ideas for future projects or ideas. I love pinterest and think that my students would love something similar to draw ideas from and be able to add their own to share.