Okay, here's your point as I understand it: You think that increased interactivity doesn't help imagination. You think that the iBooks Textbooks will be more distraction than actually helpful. I'm here to tell you that that's completely backwards. I think the novelty of this new form of learning may offer some brief distraction from the learning process initially, but its fun and more intuitive learning style will also eventually be what people come to expect, and the actual content will be what people focus on. The distraction will wear off fairly quickly.
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Publisher Touts 20-Point Boost in Student Performance with Textbooks for iPad
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Okay, here's your point as I understand it: You think that increased interactivity doesn't help imagination. You think that the iBooks Textbooks will be more distraction than actually helpful. I'm here to tell you that that's completely backwards. I think the novelty of this new form of learning may offer some brief distraction from the learning process initially, but its fun and more intuitive learning style will also eventually be what people come to expect, and the actual content will be what people focus on. The distraction will wear off fairly quickly.
Apple gave a recommendation. They won't and can't control pricing since publishers will not use Apple if Apple prevented them from setting their own price.
That's really it. Formalized school works well for most of the population. It's that last 20% or so that school doesn't work well for them. Steve Jobs was one of them—he dropped out of college and only dropped in on certain things that interest him.
Bingo. ADD and other students need to be motivated and taught a certain way. The iPad may or may not do it for them but at the very least, it's more engaging and that's what counts. Statistics show that the more senses that are stimulated, the more likely the information is retained. Videos cover some ground but it's that interaction that really is going to help. Just replacing written texts with the same material on an iPad is not a game changer—it's the going to be the immersive stuff.
No. Not correct. What I'm saying is that these interactive books are fantastic. But when a student becomes accustomed to these types of books - then when it comes to books that are not interactive or as "sexy" - they won't hold interest.
So you completely misunderstood me.
What you don't understand is people ALREADY have no interest in those boring textbooks. Show me someone that loves reading their textbooks more than playing a game on the iPad, and I'll show you a liar. This brings textbooks so much closer to a game that it's actually FUN to use your textbook. Download the app and use one and you'll see my point.
as a current engineering student i have to say that when i sit in a lecture theater and look at the small number of people using computers, almost all of them will constantly be doing other tasks such as facebook and chatting. i cant see how on an ipad it will be any different. having a physical textbook in front of you greatly reduces distractions and therefore i subsequently i think it would lead to better results.
You're still missing my point. Not every book (textbook or otherwise) will be brought to life with an iBook. Some textbooks will remain textbooks - just maybe be electronic. No bells and whistles. And the majority of plays, novels, technical papers, etc will remain as texts. Not interactive. So again - my point is that it's all fine and dandy - to a point. But it can become a problem when children are raised expecting a level of interactivity and then are faced with literature which does not conform to their preconceived and experiential "norm."
I'm sorry - if you fail to see this after me explaining it (twice) - then I can't make it clearer.
People not serious when it comes to their education will always find other ways to occupy their time. That will never change. But making the education more alluring will without a doubt help at least some of those people.
So... Because not every book will benefit, we should scrap the idea? I really don't think see how you can think this way. Some books will largely stay the same, some will be greatly improved. It really is that simple. Just the added benefit of not having to carry a pile of textbooks with you to school everyday should be enough of an improvement to warrant this.
Well why can't wifi be turned off in class. I mean some sort of rules still need to apply. Yes some could go 3G but at some point discipline needs to still be in effect. Textbooks would be loaded on the iPad.
Long Tail View of Education & Interest
In the beginning it was all voice.
Pictures were drawn in pre-history, but it was one on one with a cave wall.
Text in one form or another entered at least just after the last ice age by individuals writing or chiseling their thought.
Gutenberg's press (15,000 years after the first writing) suddenly sounded the demise of masses of scribes by allowing EASY small runs of publications by having reusable movable type (not specifically the press).
Roll fed paper in high speed presses in the late 1800s (300 yrs after Gutenberg) allowed "the daily newspaper".
Audio (about 50 years after newspapers) starting with Edison allowed a new dimension of interest in the human senses to be tweaked to inform and teach from replayable multiple copy media.
Video (about 20 years after audio) started to make its appearance as movies to the masses for an even greater audience and shortly thereafter "talkies".
Television about 30 years later than movies allowed home viewing and listening to important and educational and entertainment adding more people into the informed class of citizens, however arguable.
The progress above led to massive increases in the ability of people to transmit knowledge and learn.
Unexpected Results: iPad's first exciting result to me was the transformation with some students with impaired communication problems being able to start communicating and learning more with an iPad...this was astounding. It really means that an interactive tablet inspires the mind.
The iPad with interactive apps gets to the smallest and most personal form factor allowing entertainment and education in the most accessible form factor known that can in turn access information that is not currently on the device by downloading it.
It is easy to see that interactivity can explain things more easily and completely than anything including a classroom for detailed examination of a subject because you can "rewind" which you can't do in a classroom.
For those who think iPads are not good for students, I feel sorry. I suspect in short order we will confirm the advantage of iPads in learning improvement across a range of fields and the lowered cost of "books" and support materials. Ultimately, that leaves the teacher free to help with the most troubling issues in the study of each field, as opposed to the rote basics.
Long live the iPad. It can't get a smaller screen and still be easily usable, though it can get thinner and probably will.
That's my long 2 bucks worth. We are in a new era.
In the beginning it was all voice.
Pictures were drawn in pre-history, but it was one on one with a cave wall.
Text in one form or another entered at least just after the last ice age by individuals writing or chiseling their thought.
Gutenberg's press (15,000 years after the first writing) suddenly sounded the demise of masses of scribes by allowing EASY small runs of publications by having reusable movable type (not specifically the press).
Roll fed paper in high speed presses in the late 1800s (300 yrs after Gutenberg) allowed "the daily newspaper".
Audio (about 50 years after newspapers) starting with Edison allowed a new dimension of interest in the human senses to be tweaked to inform and teach from replayable multiple copy media.
Video (about 20 years after audio) started to make its appearance as movies to the masses for an even greater audience and shortly thereafter "talkies".
Television about 30 years later than movies allowed home viewing and listening to important and educational and entertainment adding more people into the informed class of citizens, however arguable.
The progress above led to massive increases in the ability of people to transmit knowledge and learn.
Unexpected Results: iPad's first exciting result to me was the transformation with some students with impaired communication problems being able to start communicating and learning more with an iPad...this was astounding. It really means that an interactive tablet inspires the mind.
The iPad with interactive apps gets to the smallest and most personal form factor allowing entertainment and education in the most accessible form factor known that can in turn access information that is not currently on the device by downloading it.
It is easy to see that interactivity can explain things more easily and completely than anything including a classroom for detailed examination of a subject because you can "rewind" which you can't do in a classroom.
For those who think iPads are not good for students, I feel sorry. I suspect in short order we will confirm the advantage of iPads in learning improvement across a range of fields and the lowered cost of "books" and support materials. Ultimately, that leaves the teacher free to help with the most troubling issues in the study of each field, as opposed to the rote basics.
Long live the iPad. It can't get a smaller screen and still be easily usable, though it can get thinner and probably will.
That's my long 2 bucks worth. We are in a new era.
Jeez. You forgot a little thing between television and the iPad called computers and the INTERNET.
Mobile computers are just a small subset of that, Tablets a small subset of that and specifically the iPad is just a subset of that. No, it's not the iPad itself that has revolutionalized learning. Man you guys need to get back down to earth.Tony
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It really depends on the subject matter too. Not every student is going to excel in every subject because they're simply not interested no matter how immersive. There's simply no way around that.
Where did I say the idea should be scrapped no where. I raised my concerns and opened it up for a discussion point. You DON'T see how I can think this way or how this MIGHT be possibly detrimental to the way future generations process information? I am able to see the big picture on the positive side - but that doesn't negate the possibilities for downsides either.
If you want to believe that this has no downside and it's all roses - good for you.
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Cute. Punchy. But a little short sighted.
A well worded and eloquent way of stating that, sometimes, folks just need a kick in the arse (philosophically speaking, of course) to set them on the right track.
I agree.
Personally, I think you're blinded by potential downsides, to the point where you don't seem to be able to understand the serious benefits of this approach. That's what I'm getting at.
First step: Download the iBooks app, and try the free textbook. You'll see my point instantly.
For those thinking there is only a positive side to this technology based learning let me share some real world experiences.
We live in a world (now) with incredible access to information - yet people still can't use google or a search function (ie - on this site) to find information. Instead - they are so used to immediate gratification/etc that they post a new thread or ask questions which are easily answered via google.
It used to be going to the library and looking up periodicals. Photocopying. Writing by hand notes/etc to write a report was labor intensive.
Now students of all ages (I have several friends who are teachers) complaining about having to even copy/paste information from various online sources.
It's quite sad how the English language is fractured because of sites like Facebook and Twitter. People spell Pls instead of please. Not just online anymore - but on papers. And so on.
Am I being "doom and gloom" - perhaps. But my point is - that as great as technology is - it doesn't always advance intellect. On some levels it cripples it. Or at least alters it in ways that aren't 100 percent improvements.
I think interactive books are a FANTASTIC idea as a learning tool. Not exclusively as one.
We live in a world (now) with incredible access to information - yet people still can't use google or a search function (ie - on this site) to find information. Instead - they are so used to immediate gratification/etc that they post a new thread or ask questions which are easily answered via google.
It used to be going to the library and looking up periodicals. Photocopying. Writing by hand notes/etc to write a report was labor intensive.
Now students of all ages (I have several friends who are teachers) complaining about having to even copy/paste information from various online sources.
It's quite sad how the English language is fractured because of sites like Facebook and Twitter. People spell Pls instead of please. Not just online anymore - but on papers. And so on.
Am I being "doom and gloom" - perhaps. But my point is - that as great as technology is - it doesn't always advance intellect. On some levels it cripples it. Or at least alters it in ways that aren't 100 percent improvements.
I think interactive books are a FANTASTIC idea as a learning tool. Not exclusively as one.
I would add that before vocalization, many highly developed species including hominids were relying on tactile, visual, aural and olfactory senses to communicate. Vocalization, language, and especially written language (3500 years ago) are quite primitive against millions of years evolution in the other senses.
So it would seem that iBook Author merely enhances the ability to provide content tailored to the most efficient sensory capability of humans, our visual acuity.
And for all of you concern trolls, yes, there will be a transition from static text to full multimedia content that content creators and viewers will have to endure.
Noted.
One can only imagine how much Samcraig will hate Siri incorporated with iBook Author in the future, yet who can not imagine that this wouldn't be a good thing?
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Personally, I think you're blindsided by the potential upsides, to the point where you don't seem to be able to understand the detriments of this approach.
See what I did there...
How does being used to immediate gratification translate into posting on a forum?... I've not heard of people who can't use google either. Even my 80 year old grand mother who can barely use her computer at all is capable of using Google. It's as instant-gratificationy as instant-gratification gets.