Article summary
The article examines the use of digital readers in junior classrooms as a new and exciting way through which to engage and encourage young readership. The positive attitude of children towards new technologies is described as one of the reasons why digital readers are attractive and often suitable for their learning needs. The article discusses Mrs. Miles, a teacher who carries out a micro-study by asking two girls of different reading abilities to use Kindle readers and then observes the results. She discovers that the girls find it easier to interact with the text and with each other and that reading using the devices significantly improves their respective reading and comprehension levels. This is because they can use tools for adding notes, enhancing text and text to speech.
Emotions evoked: Excitement
As an enthusiastic believer in the idea that technology is the next big thing in the classroom, the major emotion the article evoked in me was excited. I was very glad to realize that teachers and educational planners are beginning to appreciate the potential of technological gadgets in the class. The fact that there were overt improvements is sufficient proof that digital readers and other emerging technologies will soon eclipse paper books.
How the article changed me
Before I read the article, I had not imagined proving the effectiveness of digital readers over traditional books would be so easy. I had assumed it would require extensive and expensive research studies, possibly done by highly trained scientists and professors so they could guarantee objective assessment. In fact, most of the articles I have read about the same only involved schoolteachers as subjects rather than the experimenters. However, after reading the article, I am now aware that research on the subject is essentially uncomplicated. It is a matter of observation and one does not need any particular expertise to tell the difference between when children are enjoying their learning experience and when they are not.
How I can make a difference
I would like to make a difference in the case study situation by donating and encouraging my friends to donate digital readers for the class. Evidently, there is a shortage of hardware, which makes it difficult for all the pupils to benefit from what is a clearly progressive trend. I can also contribute to solving the problem in the long-term by petitioning state education officials to allocate funds for the purchase of digital readers.
Impact on my life
For teachers, the article very useful in helping them to conceptualize the application of digital readers in the classroom setting. For example, I discovered that children dislike listening to the unnatural Kindle voice and I will explore different options such as iPads and other tablets in my classroom. What I learned from this study will also increase my flexibility and ability to guide learners into adapting to the new learning methods.
Relevance to education
The relevance of this article to education is grounded in its emphasis on using technology to better facilitate the pedagogical process. In addition, the article directly addresses educators by focusing on their needs and the challenges they may encounter in the implementation of digital tools in the class. Through this article, educators who do not consider digital readers important in teaching may be inspired to inculcate them in their classroom practice. Ultimately, while the article does not exhaust the material on the subject, it makes it abundantly clear that digital readers are the future of the modern classroom.