DIGITAL READERS: THE NEXT CHAPTER IN E-BOOK READING AND RESPONSE Kindle Nook iPad

DIGITAL READERS: THE NEXT CHAPTER IN E-BOOK READING AND RESPONSE

Kindle Nook iPad

DIGITAL READERS – E-BOOKS

Digital Readers – also known as E-book readers

A digital reading device - can store hundreds of books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs

Built-in Dictionary

Internal search capabilities

Customizable settings

Ability to write internal notes while reading


Recent studies suggest may support comprehension and strength both aesthetic and efferent reader response

More interaction and response to digital formats

A “new and unique medium” (Fasimpaur, 2004, p12)

Children often read more having access to e-books


Individualized formats for students Font size Font style Text to Speech functions Built in dictionaries to look-up unknown words Note taking within the text

Can help children with special needs ELL, visually impaired, struggling readers


This article was a study conducted at a Midwestern school in a 2nd grade classroom

2 students were chosen that were of special needs 7 year old Caucasian girl – good but not very fast reader 8 year old Asian girl – ESL, reading on 5th grade level

Findings suggest using digital reading devices with 2nd grade students promotes new literacies practices and extends connections from readers and text


The digital note tool offered insights into the reader’s meaning-making process as text unfolds

Served as a conduit to ongoing response writing

The note tool helped with the following Understanding of the story Personal meaning making – text to self connections, character

identification Questioning – desire for more information, lack of understanding Answering of questions in the text Response to text – literary evaluation

Provided a unique glimpse into the mind of individual reader


Previous studies – using laptop or desktop computers The physical environment, context, and even reading position

greatly affects the overall reading experience of those involved (Larson, 2007)

Reader often expressed physical discomfort or miss the feel of a real book

Digital readers can be taken anywhere just like a book Small size Easily portable


Implications for the ClassroomNew opportunitiesExtended possibilities for individual engagementExpanded interpretation of the textAbility to decode unfamiliar textBuilt-in dictionaryAbility to take notes during reading to gain new insight

into how a student understands the text


Have the potential to unveil an array of new teaching and learning possibilities as traditional and new literacy skills are integrated

The lack of research published on digital readers hinders efforts made by educators and administrators who wish to integrate digital texts into current curricula or school libraries

More than a portable device with incredible storage

Shows promise



Larson, Lotta (2010). Digital readers: the next chapter in e-book reading and response. The Reading Teacher, 64(1), 15-22.

Documents

DIGITAL READERS: THE NEXT CHAPTER IN E-BOOK READING AND RESPONSE Kindle Nook iPad