Forward thinking teachers are beginning to integrate technology into their lesson plans. They understand that more resources equal more ways of reaching their students and keeping them interested. The old days of spending an hour out of a week practicing typing on ancient, feeble Macs are long gone. These days, teachers use power points, online grade books, DVDs, and most recently, e books. This new, inventive curriculum utilizes technology not only for technology’s sake but for the sake of enhancing all things learned: dinosaurs, fractions, and even, working together.

Teachers have witnessed two specific and unique ways in which e books have come to the rescue. Since the human mind processes information quicker when it is in the form of a story, e books have proved particularly efficient in teaching a second language. Imagine the improvement over simple vocabulary lists. It is not a matter of memorizing, but truly learning and absorbing. Secondly, e books are deeply advantageous in personalizing lesson plans and organizing group work.  Each student’s computer can be programmed to offer a different level of difficulty or accommodation.   In a group, an e book can function as an adhesive with which to hold the work together.

I know I know, that’s three, and there’s even more, some discovered, some still waiting, unhatched, in the minds of creative teachers and schools. I can’t wait to see all the other ways e-books will pop up as teacher’s pet and student’s aid.

In the meantime, check out this blog entry from TeleRead to hear one teacher’s experiences with e books in the classroom.