This session discussed the potential of using e-Readers in teaching and learning. A representative from Barnes and Noble spoke about the need to integrate new opportunities in reading technology to change the way students learn and instructors teach. The changing nature of the business side was also discussed. As a business the representatives mentioned a need to connect different sources of information to create a more collaborative environment.
Much of the focus on the future of e-readers seems to be on the design of the technology. How can a textbook be represented digitally so that it becomes useful to students and instructors? The solutions seem to be heading to an open format that will allow users to comment and discuss the text in an online community. The presenters discussed the need for the content to be easily manipulated and useable.
There was a mention of pilot programs that will be taking place at Penn State during the summer and fall semesters using e-reader technology. It will be interesting to see the results of these programs at next years symposium.
I was very surprised to hear the representatives say that "e-books are dead". This was surprising because I have never really experienced using e-readers myself and yet the technology in its current form is dead. This says much about the nature of the technology industry in which what you buy today is outdated when u leave the store. I am interested in seeing where e-readers will be included in K-12 education in the future because the potential in incredible.
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