eBooks

There's something new coming to our library...eBooks! These digital books are super convenient and can be downloaded onto many devices like computers, Apple products, and others. There are plenty of places to buy your eBooks, whether it's direct from the publisher or through a different distributor. eBooks are becoming popular in schools, but it seems that everyone has different opinions on this new wave of technology.

Through research, I have found that even though eBooks are starting to make an appearance in schools, the average reader is about 40 years old. But why is this? I would have thought that the younger generations would like to have a digital copy rather than lugging around material books. Upon further inspection, it seems that younger generations actually don't prefer digital copies over their material counterparts. Instead, the average college student would rather lug around their several course books if it meant they would be able to actually touch the pages they were reading. This is because, while eBooks are convenient and useful, students say they are more likely to get distracted from their work if they're using a digital device to read for work. But what about reading for pleasure? This is where the general opinion changes. It seems that users are more likely to read from an eBook if they are reading for pleasure instead of for work or classes. Because of it's ability to carry several books on a simple mobile device, eBooks are good for readers that indulge themselves.

The convenience of eBooks are not limited to it's ability to save many novels or texts on one device. While reading on an eBook, a user can annotate and make notes right on the page without disrupting the actually text. This can be useful for students who are asked to annotate their assigned reading books for class but are not allowed to actually write on the pages themselves. Another convenience is that when a user is done with a rented eBook, they don't have to go to an actual library to return it. Instead, the copy is taken back when the due date comes.

Though the eBook has many attractive features, there is some dispute over the eBooks use in general. There are plenty of reviews written that say reading on a digital screen for extended periods of time is not good for the users eyes. But if you are set in your ways on reading via eBooks, a good way to preserve your sight is by remembering the rule of 20. The rule of 20 states that when using a digital screen the user should take a break every 20 minutes and focus on something about 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This will help your eyes take a quick break between reading sessions.

The trend of eBooks seems to be dependent on the type of readers that are using them. College students don't seem very impressed with this technological development but individuals that read for pleasure seem to be taking well to the conveniences that eBooks have to offer. Whether or not you read for pleasure or work should not hinder your curiosity and I recommend eBooks to anyone, if only so that you could try out a new method of reading.

sources and articles of interest:

New Study Statistics
Pros and Cons
Where to Buy
Where to Buy by Goodreads
Wiki
College Students Say...
Educationworld: ebooks in schools
Educators say...

Poetry Month

To celebrate poetry month, Inter-Lakes has been involved in a variety of muse engaging activities! Throughout the school, poems, excerpts, and quotes by well known (and not so well known) poets have been hung up. Every other morning a short poem is read over the announcements to get the students in the mood to be creative.

There are several different poem related activities I've seen students take part in around the school. In art class, students are given older books. Opening the book to a single page, they block out the words with a piece of art and avoid covering a few select words to create a found poem. When students enter the library, they have the opportunity to create a magnetic poem that others can change and evolve. In my World Literature class, we've just finished reading The Kite Runner. Each of us chose a specific scene from the book and created a found poem. Once they were complete, the poems were hung in the hall according to their order in the book. Together,  we told the story of The Kite Runner! Finally, to keep our muse flowing, the library is hosting an open mic on Friday before vacation.

There are many ways to stimulate your students by using poetry while giving them a lesson at the same time. What interesting methods can you come up with?

What Is a Media Lab?

A newly trending resource for students around America is the media lab. These things are popping up all over the place! But what are they exactly and what purpose do they serve?

Unofficially, a media lab has been referred to as a space where different organizations and individuals can gather to work and research new media, digital culture and technology. All types of media are practiced here, from simple computer work to 3D printers! In this environment you learn by doing, starting from scratch and creating videos and presentations that are unique and original.

What can you find in a media lab? Just about anything. Media labs are usually located in the library of high schools, and found in more independent places at universities. Depending on the place, size and budget for the media lab, different tools can be utilized there. Most often, a lab will have access to computers and their software. Video cameras and green screens are a popular trend that allows students to create short movies, further diversifying the presentations in their classes. A new trend that is becoming more and more popular is the 3D printer. These can be utilized for many things such as creating models for a design class. In the end, there are no limits. The idea of a media as a free form digital work space means that if you can imagine it and execute it, it's best done in the lab!

This is the first year our school has had a media lab and though it is still in the works, it has the basics down. Already it has been used by students for both assignments and free form projects. When looking to start one for your school or on your own, ask yourself "what isn't a media lab?"

Creating a Blog

When creating a blog or website, there are many things that should be considered. Availability, visual appeal, etc, must all be processed for the best possible result.

So where do we start? Well, first determine the purpose of your blog. Is it for business? Education? Family? If your blog is going to be for a more official cause with text posts, it would be important to choose a blog site that allows you to create a practical layout such as Blogger or Wordpress. Blogs that are meant for friends and family, usually containing photos and videos, would be easier to create using sites such as Tumblr. In the end, any site could be used for any purpose as long as the user is able to customize their blog to fit their needs.

Once you have found your blogging platform, it's important that your blog appearance fits it's purpose. There are many studies done on the effectiveness of logos and advertising that can help a blogger create the appropriate layout that will help them connect with their audience. This one details the key points that make good advertising. Though the site is aimed to help businesses with their advertisements of different media, the tips can help anyone with the effectiveness of their blog.

Connect with your readers! Are you using other kinds of social media? If so, give your readers the opportunity to connect with you on other media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Now that you have created your blog, it's time to start posting. Of course, the content of these entries should relate to your intended purpose of the blog. This means that if you created the blog for the purpose of recounting the experience of planning a wedding, it's best to keep your posts to that subject. Some blogs can be more free form and the posts can be too, creating a variety of subjects and themes.

This post details the thought process I went through as I created this blog. Hopefully it can guide others when they do too!