Blog Post # 3
Travis’s Excellent (eReader) Adventure
by Travis Jonker
Jonker and a colleague applied for a grant from their district that would allow them to purchase eReaders, warranties, cases, and ebooks. Their grant was approved and Jonker decided to implement the new eReader program with the fifth and six grade campus.
3 key points from the article:
1. Do your research on eReaders.
Jonker recommends several articles and websites that discuss eReader school programs, eBooks, and tablets.
2. Permission and Accessibility
Parents, of course, need to be aware of the eReader program and Jonker says permission slips should be signed by both the parent/guardian and the student. His school allowed students to take the tablets home, but were required to charge them at school during the day. Also, he mentions allowing teachers to check out the eReaders.
3. eBooks
Decisions must be made on which eBooks to offer and how to get them on the devices. Due to Digital Rights Management, it’s not as easy as one would expect to load eBooks to a device. Jonker offers three options: load all the books onto each tablet (which is what his school did), offer different books on each device, allow students to choose the eBook then the librarian downloads it to the device. He also points out that librarians should consider giving the option to check out public library books on the device.
Strategies I will use:
1. I would like to try using iPads and picture books. Digital picture books are full of sounds and movement and I think letting the students experience it for themselves would be huge in getting them more excited about books and reading.
2. I’d like to be able to communicate with parents more effectively.
https://www.remind101.com is a good place to start. I’m sure I’d have to have district approval to use this. It allows teachers to text parents without revealing any phone numbers.
References
Jonker, Travis (2012). Travis's Excellent Adventure; or 'How to Launch a Thriving Ereader Program in a Rapidly Changing World'. School Library Journal, 58 (9). Retrieved from http://www.slj.com
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