DATA ANALYSIS PROCESS
On Saturday, I went to SFU Surrey and the data analysis workshops put on by the mentors were very helpful. The timing for these workshops was ideal. Now that I have all my data, I need to know what my next step is. I went to Lisa’s Observations/Note taking session and Shelley’s and Chris’ Student Work/Artifacts session. Both mentors gave me ideas and steps on how to start dissecting my data and to try to make some sense to all this paperwork. The article ‘Finding Your Findings: Data Analysis’ was also very helpful. I have realized that I will have to condense what I have and that I don’t have to use everything that I’ve collected. Lisa gave us a handout that summarized the article in a clear chart format. Thanks, Lisa. I will definitely use this as a guide when I start. She listed the steps, some questions that will help guide me and some suggested tools I could use (index cards, highlighters, post it notes, stamps). I think the highlighters and post it notes will work best for me.
I still had some questions (Is it a good idea to cut parts of my observations when I try to sort all my data? Do I have to make a reference to every research article that I’ve read?) and Shelley answered them. I think I’m ready to have a stab at all this data. I will see how this process will take shape in the next week.
DATA COLLECTION PROCESS
It hasn’t been easy collecting data for my field study. The biggest challenge for me was finding time to collect data and remembering to do it. In my grade 1 class, September and October are busy months. I’m trying to establish routines and rules, get to know the children, and set expectations. Often times I am so busy helping the children with their work and making myself available to them, I don’t get to sit down and make focused observations. The needs of my class are high, with many of them ESL or LAC students and they demand much of my time and attention. I have tried to make at least two observations a week and make sure that I have my notebook handy. Sometimes I have to jot down notes to myself and then when I have a free moment, I write it in my notebook.
As I make observations, I still have questions. Have I colleted enough data? Is there enough time to see change? What will the data tell me?
The Research Process
The research process has been a lot of work. After formulating my field study question, finding articles using the ERIC database was not an easy task. Many articles that I wanted were not available or had to be purchased. The articles that I did find were good but all had very similar viewpoints. I was unsuccessful in finding opposing viewpoints. I tried using different key words to generate a bigger search but I all I could find were articles that supported my thinking and experience as a primary teacher.
Position Paper: Are schools ready to use ebooks? Are they tossing out the paper books?
Initially, I thought ebooks were books that were printed on a CD but I was wrong. Dr. Terence Cavanaugh defines ebooks as “books or other forms of text in digital form: an enhanced book without the paper” (2005). In order to read an ebook, you must have the software and the hardware component, like a computer, laptop, or some kind of handheld device. Ebooks come in many different formats, including Web (htm/xml), Text (txt), Adobe Acrobat Reader (pdf), Microsoft Reader (lit) and Palm Reader (pdb). They all have a number of features that best suits the individual user. Reading an ebook is much like reading a book. You can turn the pages with a digital button.
What is the issue?
Are schools ready to use ebooks? Are they tossing out the paper books?
A few schools in Texas are beginning to eliminate school books and using electronic textbooks instead. They are going the route of online resources. It is easier to update information and quicker to access. One school in Philadelphia, designed by Bill Gates’ Microsoft team and a school in Vail, Arizona just opened without books. Is this the future of our schools?
Advantages of ebooks
There are some advantages of using ebooks instead of paper books. Ebooks are less expensive than traditional textbooks as they have no printing cost. Schools would save a lot of money. Some ebooks are even free and can be accessed through the web. Many schools and libraries offer free access to these books and texts. Books that are in the public domain give students even greater access to books. It is relatively easy for libraries to expand their media collection because shelf space is not needed to store ebooks. They can all be stored on the computer network or other portable storage devices such as flash drives. Sometimes the texts in ebooks are hyperlinked which leads the reader to another site or page. Students gain additional information using this feature. Ebooks are great for students who are visual learners and who enjoy using the computer. They have a range of features including pictures, animation and sound. You can even change the font style and size and even have the book read aloud to you.
Ebooks can be accessed quickly. Students can get their favorite book instantly without having to wait for the stores to open. They can be purchased on-line and you wouldn’t have to drive out to the bookstore or go to the library to see if the book is available and then return it after you’re done. Ebooks are easily shared by many readers at the same time and teachers don’t have to worry if there are not enough books to pass around. Ebooks can also be easily updated with current information. Schools that purchase textbooks are stuck with them for at least a few years until schools order new books. Ebooks are also great for the environment. These books are produced electronically which means no trees would be cut down, no gas emissions from delivery trucks and airplanes, and no presses to run at the printing shop.
Ebooks are lightweight and portable. Students do not have to carry heavy books in their backpacks because you can store the ebook on one dvd, cd, flash drive. A hard drive has the capacity to store hundreds of titles, if not more.
Disadvantages of ebooks
There are some disadvantages to ebooks as well. Although ebooks are good for the environment, computers must be used to read these books. Electricity is needed to power up these computers in order for students to access the ebooks. Also, students must have a computer, laptop or portable device plus the required software to be able to read ebooks. This could be an expensive option for some students. While schools may have a lot of computers, are students able to access them easily? There may be a couple of computers in the classroom, but how often will they get to use it? If computers are in the school library, how much time does each class get? How many teachers are comfortable using ebooks to teach in their classrooms? The article, Thought Textbooks Would All Be Gone By Now? Well, Think Again, Trotter, 2007, states “teachers still don’t have enough training in technology to embrace digital instructional materials widely.” While younger, beginner teachers are more likely to be computer literate, many mature teachers are apprehensive. It takes time and money to train these teachers.
While it is convenient to carry ebooks in a backpack, they are easier to lose, get stolen or get damaged because of its portability. It students lose, drop or damage their dvd, cd or flash drive, all the ebooks stored on these devices are gone too. Would the student or the school be responsible for these devices?
My opinion
Although many may not be aware, we’ve all been fully engaged with ebooks. We read news articles and other text in digital format on a daily basis. Many students are already using computers at home or in school reading many research articles in digital format. Reading an ebook is no different than reading a news article on the web. Ebooks are very cost effective, easy to access and environmental friendly since it’s in digital format. Schools in Texas have already migrated toward paperless ebooks. Kids and teachers nowadays are technology savvy that they spend most of their time reading and communicating in digital format. Kids and teachers are more than ready to toss out the paper books and start using ebooks. It’s now up to the school boards to come up with a plan to move forward with this technology.
I have just begun using the website Tumblebooks this last term at school, which has numerous ebooks for elementary aged students. The books are from well known publishers and my grade 1 students love going to this site because the books are animated, have sound and are read to them with great expression. My ESL and LAC students who are struggling readers benefit most from these ebooks. They are exposed to great literature, great authors, enriching language, and beautiful illustrations. Some of the ebooks are in different languages, like French and Spanish and there are follow up activities and games. I can access it for free and the students enjoy reading the books on the computers that I have in the classroom. One ESL boy loved reading Robert Munsch’s 50 Below Zero so much, he kept rereading the same book over and over again, telling me that it was his favorite ebook.
Annotated Bibliography
Cavanaugh, Terence Ph. D. EBooks: Expanding the School Library, Library Media Connection, Vol. 23 n.5, p. 56-59, February 2005.
http://www.masscue.org/conference/2006/handouts/Lizano-Dimare_eBooks_Library.pdf
In this journal article, the author explains the benefits of having ebooks in the school library and gives steps to create a digital library.
Trotter, Andrew. Thought Textbooks Would All Be Gone by Now? Well, Think Again, Education Week, Vol. 27 Issue 4, p. 1-13, September 19, 2007.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/09/19/04e-texts.h27.html
In this journal article, the author reports that textbooks are still primarily used in schools and discusses some of the reasons why.
Warlick, David. Textbooks of the Future, Technology & Learning, Vol. 24 n. 10, p.28-29, May 2004.
http://www.techlearning.com/shared/printableArticle.php?articleID=20300250
In this journal article, the author discusses some qualities of networked digital information for teaching and learning.
Andrew, do you have your ebooks for school?
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/education/stories/110406dnmetebooks.3255a88.html
Are schools using ebooks instead of texts?
Are school boards tossing their text books?
A few schools in Texas are beginning to eliminate school books and using electronic textbooks instead. They are going the route of online resources. It is easier to update information and quicker to access. One school in Philadelphia, designed by Bill Gates’ Microsoft team and a school in Vail, Arizona just open without books. Is this the future of our schools?
Using ebooks for Primary students
Tumblebooks is a collection of story books online for kids. Books are animated, have sound and music, and is narrated. Students can read the book or have the book read to them. These are high quality books from children’s publishers including Simon & Schuster, Harcourt, Candlewick Press and more.
Go to www.tumblebooks.com/library/asp/home_tumblebooks.asp
