Comments on: The Kids Are Alright! Why Digitization and E-books are Good for Literacy

By: jiminy cricket

jiminy cricket — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:42:14 +0000

One other point if I may. All this talk about how digital books will advance literacy seems quite specious to me. How is this argument seemingly built-in to their invention? Certainly they are attractive to the harried parent that might “throw” it as their unsuspecting child. With a quite likely soothing, modulated and audio enhanced voice, it would certainly capture a child’s attention. But it seems obvious, no?, that a child’s attention can quite easily captured with a piece of paper and some charcoal from the fireplace. (Cooled to room temperature of course).

If this argument were true, that digital books will advance literacy, what would we now have if they had first been introduced in, say, 1900? or even as late as 1950? A generation of mechanics and migrant farm workers that wish to discuss the finer points of Ezra Pound at their local McCafe?

I’m not suggesting that “Dick and Jane” is the be all, end all route to literacy. But to suggest that simply because it is an exciting, not-to-be-ignored invention and that it is here to stay, ipso facto will “advance literacy” is wishful thinking and clever rationalizing.

By: jiminy cricket

jiminy cricket — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:34:18 +0000

yes, but… is the way I always feel about futuristic articles such as these. not that the thoughts here aren’t interesting or cogent, but it always feels like we’re always having the same conversation: “oh my here comes a new medium, whatever shall we do?” there is a “so what?” built into the worry, at least for me.
i mainly want to comment about that egregious Alice iPad thing. Here’s the question: what would Lewis Carroll think? What does one accomplish by turning Alice in Wonderland essentially into a video game? Or oppositely, how is one to deal with the natural sense of social isolation one might increasingly feel when one simply picks … up….. a………….. book.

By: Joe Ray

Joe Ray — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 23:57:54 +0000

Exciting article! How we learn changes but those that teach and sell learning to us do not change. That has been the problem and the battle. What I see as exciting here is the call to action – The Drive Towards 100% Literacy.

This is a terrific rallying cry!

By: The Daily News: 21 June 2011 | Finding Heroes

The Daily News: 21 June 2011 | Finding Heroes — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 23:27:56 +0000

[...] The Kids Are Alright! Why Digitization and E-books are Good for Literacy | Publishing Perspectives via @bridgy_s. (BoK4) [...]

By: The Benefits of Digital Books for Children « Literacy Matters Today

The Benefits of Digital Books for Children « Literacy Matters Today — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 03:36:52 +0000

[...] 5. E-books help prepare kids for the digital world. Not only will your child be building literacy skills with an e-book, he or she will also be building computer skills as well. Technology is all around us, and children are motivated and engaged by the multiple forms of technology that surround them. Why not use these tools to benefit children’s learning? E-books engage children in reading and motivate them to want to read. Here is an interesting article I found that discusses why e-books are good for literacy: http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/04/the-kids-are-alright-why-digitization-and-e-books-are-good... [...]

By: E-books and p-books work together for child literacy | The Buzz on Ereading

E-books and p-books work together for child literacy | The Buzz on Ereading — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:05:07 +0000

[...] by Kristen McLean, executive director of the Association of Booksellers for Children (ABC), about the benefits that computer technology has had and e-books are likely to have for child literacy. (There is also a related editorial/discussion topic by Edward [...]

By: Deborah Emin

Deborah Emin — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:02:16 +0000

What a wonderful article that leaves out one major factor as to why the rise of the e-book is essential and that is conservation of resources. We at Sullivan Street Press made a decision early on in our development of our mission statement that furthering the bound book caused too many environmental problems. Thus we felt it was the duty of the new publishing paradigm to address what the e-book could contribute to the advancement of both reading and the community of readers and writers who actively engage with the new technology.
This is not an easy switch and we have had authors refuse to work with us because they do not want an e-book only format for their stories. But given what the waste and damage amount to over the lifetime of books, we are quite resolute to proceed this way.
Having said all of that, Ms. McLean’s article is insightful, articulate and helpful to those of us who are struggling to present content that will be of interest to a wide range of readers.