We all love picture books for children but there is now one with a new twist, and a shake and a wiggle. Alice for the iPad is an amazing app which contains a slightly interactive version of this well loved story. It seems full of clever little touches like mushrooms that you can toss around a room with a twist of your iPad or an Alice who grows and shrinks as you move your gadget around.
A study released this week looked at the environmental impact of eReading devices and claimed that the carbon emitted in the lifecycle of the ereader was off-set after a year of use or 22.5 books.
The new study finds that e-readers could have a major impact on improving the sustainability and environmental impact on the publishing industry, one of the world’s most polluting sectors. In 2008, the U.S. book and newspaper industries combined resulted in the harvesting of 125 million trees, not to mention wastewater that was produced or its massive carbon footprint.
The report, authored by Emma Ritch, states: “Any additional years of use result in net carbon savings, equivalent to an average of 168 kg of CO2 per year (the emissions produced in the manufacture and distribution of 22.5 books).”
The Cleantech Group forecasts that e-readers purchased from 2009 to 2012 could prevent 5.3 billion kg of carbon dioxide in 2012, or 9.9 billion kg during the four-year time period.
The report also encourages academic institutions to implement pilot testing of e-readers as a replacement to physical textbooks, citing schools such as Princeton University, the University of Virginia, and Arizona State University already leading the way.
It seems the case for eBooks is building.
Recent articles in the press report that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is looking at creating paperless classrooms by introducing digital textbooks. One report here.
Although budgets may be driving Mr Schwarzenegger’s current decision could this be the start of using technology to a greater extent in education? Can ebooks comfortably sit side by side with traditional media whether in the form of a textbook or fiction? Indeed, can using this technology enhance a student’s learning?
Forward thinking teachers will no doubt be exploring how technology can develop learning experiences for their pupils. They will know that learning is not transformed simply by the use of technology, but by how it is used creatively. This is where teachers can bring their greatest skills to the table, the application of the tools available to enhance learning. So whether it be ebooks or other media, students have a greater opportunity to learn when a variety of methods are employed to engage them.
In line with this weeks celebration of Children’s Books I though I would share some of my favorite books as a child. Most of my adventures centered around beautiful princesses, rescuing princes, fairies, and girlish dreams of love. Here is my top 5, I would love to hear yours.
5. The Twelve Dancing Princesses by The Brothers Grim
4. The Eleventh Hour by Graeme Base
3. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnette
2. Ramona Quimby age 8 by Beverly Cleary
1. The Value of Believing in Yourself: The Story of Louis Pasteur by Spencer Johnson, MD.
ebooks are catching on, and not just on Amazon or with Sony, but with big name publishers. The Guardian out of the UK stated in a artical regarding the London Book Fair, that ebooks are a booming and rising options for readers. The market is starting to take a second look at what they can expect and gain from this technology. Some also, however, ask the question is it like VHS v. Beta-max? Will the price point and format war be the killer or will the strong survive and flourish?
In south Alabama, Jackson High School has won the Laura Bush Gulf Coast School Library Recovery Initiative Grants Program for $25,000, in order to expand the reference material within the school to ebook format. A big win for the high school and an even bigger win for the ebook market. The fact that schools are catching on and seeing the benefit to their technologically advance and majority technology friendly students want them is major. This way they might actually look up the information instead of buying it from a paper “genius”.
I have to mention that it has been finals week for me so I apologize for my absence. I have been thinking as I have sat in the library for about a week, if there was a cot I would have slept here, anyway, if universities incorporated ebooks into their format for finals and for studying the use and need would be wonderful for students and also would save tremendously on paper. I asked my professor what we spent on paper (each professor has an account that the university pays but keeps track of) this semester his amount copied and printed was over $400 worth of paper. So my point being that ebooks and etests would be nice, convient not to mention Earth friendly.
I noticed Oprah is now Twittering, I wonder is the magic gone or growing from Twitter, now that everyone is doing it does it bring growth or new way to fail? I think the same about ebooks, many people ask me the same question in regard to ebooks and elearning for kids, “will it bring growth, or a new way to be lazy?
Let me just say I firmly believe that ebooks will bring a new way to be productive. A new way for kids to learn, and share knowledge across a wider table. eBooks will allow more knowledge to be given and taken and also people who could not get a book deal can write to another audience. I know moms who would love to write for kids, and kids who write for kids and ebook publishing gives them a chance.
So I ask you ebooks, a buzz word or the new great read?
After polling several mothers and fathers, asking them how the like to enjoy reading to their children and would they consider using ebooks in conjunction with traditional paper books most were unaware that ebooks had advanced to a child level. Interesting idea, advancing to a child’s level.
I introduced them to Wizz-E.com and asked if they would share a moment with their children reading ebooks and report back their findings.
Here are their words:
I prefer paper books, but as our society is growing more electronically inclined I think it’s great that we’re keeping books in that process. At least the kids are still reading! That’s what’s most important.
I really think anything that gets kids reading is great.
-Vanessa T. Oklahoma
Putting ebooks in the hands of kids is a great way to blend technology that they are bombarded with daily and the excitement of reading. Which I believe todays kids are losing touch with. Meeting kids where they are will always prove more results than trying to force feed them something that they feel is old or out of touch with their lives.
Sarah P. California
We haven’t tried ebooks but I can’t say I find it appealing. I enjoy cuddling up w/ the girls to read in their beds or on the sofa. Putting them in front of the computer screen just doesn’t do it for me. They do some computer at school and a little at home, but there’s nothing like reading together and turning actual pages. Both peanuts are starting to read on their own now and enjoy quiet time in their room with books… it’s lovely. Then again, this is all coming from the least techy person out there. I don’t own a cell phone, have tivo/dvr (nor cable!) or whatever else it’s called. Bluray? What’s that? Twitter - huh? Just old school that way
-Susan J. South Carolina
Like anything else we expose our children too, ebooks should be a relationship between parent and child. Communication is important. The whole idea of ebooks if faster put into the hands of young people to give them a different source for material and education. I love the idea that ebooks could replace DVD’s in cars. Could you imagine giving your child a gift card to download the Titles the have been wanting to read just before a long car trip and then as the trip goes on allow them to read aloud or share the story they chose.
I think that as parents we are quick to give something to our children that will occupy them so we can be more comfortable. The easier the access to that comfort the better. DVD, video games, music they all are quick ways to entertain. But what if we changed the idea of entertainment. If a child is given the access to a book, one that will read a loud if he is not yet reading with sounds and animation - that becomes a game. Then they hooked on a story and they want to read more. Just like if you allow your child the taste of sugar before they experience broccoli most children will forgo the green for the yum.
My long point is this. Give your child the good stuff and they will grave knowledge instead of fillers. They world has enough ridiculous fillers, allow them to experience the magic of a book and the total losing of the time that comes from passion in literature. Ebooks are a great way to do that - like hiding broccoli in pizza.
-Tom H. Texas
In no way do we at Wizz-E.com feel that ebooks should deter moms and dads from page-turning-time with their little ones, but use the technology that is available and of the best authors and animators/illustrators to allow for educational time in a way that uses what kids already experience. I love what Tom said “…like hiding broccoli in pizza.”
Ebook “Pizza!”
§ Download books to your smart phone and use then in waiting rooms, while grocery shopping, running errands, in the dentist chair - since ebooks are much cheaper than paper copies, allow your child to download a new story for each outing.
§ Long car rides instead of hand-held video games
§ To distract while you are cleaning/preparing dinner instead of TV
§ As rewards, “if you finish this book you can download one of your choice”
§ While you are working on your laptop let your child sit next to your and “work” on his reading.
“parents are just not ready to utilize ebooks for their children.”
I asked the commenter why and the response surprised me:
“Learning is not a game, and how can a child learn from games or electronic books?”
After taking a moment to consider the response I could give I asked myself the same question. The answer came swiftly and strongly. Today’s children are bombarded with electronica, video games, iPods, iPhones, Blackberry’s, Laptops, Wii (Nintendo) and PlayStation.
Those aren’t even the items that preschoolers are using; they are learning to read from Leapfrog’s “laptop”, Leapster Handheld game consoles and even playing Dora the Explorer and Diego games on Nintendo DS they can even “Build-a-Bear” on the Wii.
So I ask you, is learning a game?
OF COURSE!
Ask any teacher how they teach the alphabet - with the alphabet song, or teach kindergartners how to remember numbers, a game, a song or a rhythm. Children learn math from games such as Count the Beans, Stack the Pigs and blocks. So why can’t they learn reading from a book online that is a animated version of the 2D book on their bookshelf?
Children learn through repitition: hearing, seeing, and interacting with information. The more we can visualize the information they are to take in, the more information they will want to take in.
What a great time to show your green by skipping those paper books and find some new reads in ebooks. Not only are they a simple and easy way to catch up on your Spring reading list ebooks are completely GREEN!
The people at All Romance eBooks have launched a site all about going green. Not about authors or stories, but promoting the ebooks and all the glories that come with using them.
We chose to do this because the idea that nature should be preserved is important to us. It is a core value and one of the reasons that we adore eBooks
eBooks are delivered to the end user electronically. They are read electronically. They are disposed of with a push of a delete button, without ever taking up room in a landfill.
Some numbers:
Consider This:
It takes twelve trees to produce a ton of printing paper. Twenty-four trees for higher grade writing paper.
A mature tree can produce as much oxygen in a season as ten people inhale in a year.
Only 5% of the paper used in the book industry is recycled.
Up to 35% of books printed for consumers are never read. They are returned to the publisher and end up in landfills.
71% of the world’s paper supply comes from natural forests, rather than tree farms.
So, this St. Paddy’s day show the world that being green doesn’t have to end on March 18 and those trees can live another day!
eBook Week has ended but that does not mean the reading has ended.
In fact Erika Smith of the IndyStar.com has called 2009 the “Year of the eBook.” With retailers gearing up for a paper/ebook fight the winners are yet to be determined. Amazon and Sony have been leading the pack with their ebook readers that have come out early and with a fierce support and book download service. However, Barnes and Noble hopes to lap them with the ebook store they are launching later this year.
By the year 2012 Price Waterhouse Cooper estimates the sales of ebooks to be around $12 Billion, yeah billion.
So whats the significance of ebook week and the sales of ebooks? It shows that the market is ready for ebooks. The market is ready becuase the people are ready. The cycle of want and need, desire and purchase or simply, supply and demand. With the market and people ready that means that technology and uses will improve. Better school use, better teaching use, more availability in the classroom and most important more opportunity for our children to read and learn in a 3 dimensional world.
We chose to do this because the idea that nature should be preserved is important to us. It is a core value and one of the reasons that we adore eBooks 
