Jim Marshall, Promethean CEO
There is an eBook advantage for students. Today, it is possible to access more reading and information online, and from eBooks than any traditional library can physically hold. It is necessary to take advantage of not only what used to be the only way of gathering knowledge, but also the digital way of accessing the same knowledge and more, in a digital way. At this point, digital should be considered traditional as well.
I love books, and I love libraries full of them. Libraries in schools have always been the heart of learning and of the school, as well as an oasis for media and technology, too. They are special places, and continue to play an important learning role, with the addition of e-books—in print or audio form—expanding that role. So, what I’m about to say is important, because sharing knowledge is a larger task, today, than most school libraries, or most public libraries can contain. Students need access to all resources appropriate for them to take the lead in their own learning. There’s more room in the cloud.
Hopefully, students are long beyond sitting in reading groups, using the same book, taking turns reading parts of paragraphs—out of learning context each day. While students can certainly have personalized reading choice, today, with traditional library borrowing, multiple copies of award-winning books from classroom reading centers and libraries, as well as from bookstore and book fair purchases, the number of choices online far surpasses all of that. Why would we continue to have teachers teach, and students learn, in a last century way, well into this new digitally full century?
Today, technology outfitted students, with handhelds, can individually source materials online at a touch. The investment to do this is a lot less than it once was, it’s more reliable, too, and the impact can be wonderfully immediate for students and teachers, as well as meeting a school or district’s goals. Additionally, by using cloud-based, or server technology, all learners can share and collaborate with other students, and their teachers throughout a lesson, task or a project—locally and globally. That should be the reality and the norm in classrooms today. If not, we need to get there quickly. There are plenty of people at Promethean, who have the expertise to do this, so I know it can be done. Students and teachers should be able to take advantage of all resources—including books kids can touch, download, as well as hear. We are in a phenomenal time, and we have the technology and solutions to make that possible.
Looking for more Promethean? Try Planet and ClassFlow.
~ Jim Marshall, CEO Promethean
@JimMarshallPRW
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