Digital Textbooks...It's a Matter of Defintion (Part 2 in a series on Digital Textbooks)

Last post, I went to the extreme of comparing digital textbooks to putting
"Lipstick on a Pig". So I promise that I will lead you away from the make-up aisle and towards something that will change your teacher...Forever.

Way to raise the bar Lit Maven!

Anyway, I have been thinking about this post in my sleep. Which, I know is fairly sad...but it is all for the educational good.

Anyway...it begins with this... it's a matter of definition.

(not the Canadian TV Show)

and definitely not the show's Theme Song or Austin Powers

What it isn't
For me, I am not talking about a "Digital" Textbook as simply a digital version of a regular textbook.

Some schools use the term E-book or "digital equivalent", as suggested in this article.

My Definition

So what is your definition, Lit Maven?

I envision or define a digital textbook, like writers' notebooks. An all encompassing catchment for a subject area or subjects combined. Pulling in audio, video and other resources into a home base for students. Combining all the features of a digital textbook except...it is created by the teacher (perhaps also from students).

This would be a huge undertaking. But wouldn't it be worth it?

I must digress..once a teacher asked me for help with her struggling reader. I suggested some resources or things that she could create.

She said, "I don't have time."
I thought, "So it's easier to do nothing. It's easier to ignore a student who is struggling?" (Please note the sarcasm)

So yes...it requires work, but so do all things, that are worthwhile.

What Do We Call it?

So what name can we use to replace the digital textbook?

I am thinking CLN(Classroom Learning Network ). But I also what the name to suggest a unifying element, a central hub of info. I will continue to ponder it. Please let me know what you think.

Also,check out this #Edchat summary. It helps to get the discussion started.

Next Post: Baking a "textbook" from scratch.

Until Next Time,
Lit Maven Out!

Digital Textbooks...Like Putting Lipstick on a Pig

No More Paper, No More Books…No More Problems…

I find the topic of digital textbooks to be fascinating. It sounds appealing…heck it sounds romantic…. Really?...Lit Maven.

Let me explain....
The current situation is that most students are using "regular" textbooks.

I remember the excitement of opening a textbook at the beginning of the year and seeing who had their name in it last year.

If it was a boy, there was sure to be bad words somewhere…or Rock Band logos…Sometimes there were speech bubbles with inappropriate comments.

The textbook was a rite of passage. A unifying force so to speak. Walk down the hall and you knew who was in which grade or at least, taking which classes. But how old school is that notion...

But the question cannot be about textbooks vs. digital textbooks. It has to be this:

Can we move away from digital textbooks (textbooks) towards a blend of other internet resources?

You see...it is a matter of intention. If it is to save money, by having a digital textbook then essentially you are putting lipstick on a pig.

Are we enlightening he child...or lightening the backpack?






Oh I know..you are thinking.."there is so much you can do with a digital textbook, Lit Maven."

Perhaps you can change the font size or search more efficiently...but really is this a breakthrough?

NO.

So what can we do instead?

This week I would like to investigate the possibilities of teacher created textbooks. That is... textbooks (resources) that are a blend of materials such as audio,video, images etc.

I will be answering questions like:

Where can you find the information to include?

How can you store and distribute the information?

Of course I may come up with more questions along the way.

But...
Until Next Time,
Lit Maven Out!

Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner: How Dirty Dancing Can Inspire Educational Change

So...I was thinking a lot about context. The fact that we behave differently in different contexts.

You might be more chatty at home, less so at work.
You might think more creatively outside, less inside.
You might be a morning person, not a night owl.
You might prefer to walk and think, rather than sit and think.

Baby Houseman was the perfect daughter...until she helped carry watermelon (fast forward to 6:30 mins in)...more about that later.

I guess we all have our ideal conditions, where we do our great work. The thing is students are learning and being assessed in one context with usually one set of conditions.
Is it possible that grades reflect the context not the person?
If so...what are we doing?
How is this even useful?

This insight first came to me a couple of years ago when my daughter brought her art home from school. School art time was usually about 20 minutes max and her art reflected that. At home, she would take 2 hours at a time to complete amazing works of art.

All of a sudden, I thought back to my past students.
What I saw in my classroom was only a glimpse of what those students could do!? It could have been a good reflection or a bad reflection but no where near a complete reflection.

Baby Houseman learned to dance in another context. (Fast Forward to 4:10 mins)

Think about it this way...What if Baby had never been exposed to other contexts?

Well, personally, I think she would have stayed in the corner...a very long time...

Until Next Time!
Lit Maven Out!

Blogging From Brokeback Mountain: When Quitting Isn't an Option

I need your help. I am nearing the 100th blog post and I need to know a bit more about your interests. This blog was created on January 2010 for a graduate course. Those "Post #1", "Post #2" etc., were created for weekly assignments.

When the course ended, I wasn't sure of the direction I wanted to go, so it was a mixture of classroom reflections, pop culture connections to education, social media chatter etc... and so I am curious what keeps you coming back to the Lit Maven?

I have created 2 Polls on the left side.You can choose as many selections as you wish. NOTE: POLL HAS CLOSED, PLEASE COMMENT BELOW INSTEAD. I appreciate the extra effort...cause,

"I just can't quit you!"

(Note: Not the original movie quote...I took Lit Maven liberties...as usual!)




If you would like to be more specific than the polls allow, please comment below.

Until Next Time,
Lit Maven Out!

Idea Overload: Here's Some Help

I am one of those people that has too many ideas...I am sure some of you are rubbing your eyes saying..."Oh boohoo, Lit Maven."

Yes, I should feel blessed...but no... I feel so overwhelmed by them. Even the notion that I could never develop all of them puts me into a cold sweat.

But...after searching I have come across some helpful resources that I would like to share with you. Here is one of my favorites!

Do More Great Work By Michael Bungay Stanier. The book has a series of exercises that help you to decide what your Great Work is. Please watch the video, The Alchemy of Great Work, to understand the concept of bad work, good work and great work.


Then there is a series of exercises to actually make a decision on which idea is the best to work on. The book can be found at bookstores and libraries. If you register on his site, you get the graphic organizers that come with the book for FREE.

I am really impressed with the Do Great Work interviews such as: Seth Godin and Neil Pasricha....Even if the subject seems to be far from your 9 to 5 job there are always some Universal ideas to relate to.

In addition to the interviews...Michael gives the best introductions I have ever heard.

So if you are like me...or not like me...check it out!

Until Next Time,
Lit Maven Out!

Who's Launched? Matthew McConaughy has! Ideas for Changing Education

So..it seems like everything I have been reading is...ideas are fine but not putting them into action..is well...just like catching bubbles....kinda useless...(although WARNING..this is cute!)





Or as our buddy Wayne would say:

"You miss 100% of the shots you never take."
– Wayne Gretzky

Therefore, today's post is all about focusing on launching ideas.

Guidelines for Launching Ideas from Boyton and Fischer (2011)

1. Know your "Gig"
Gig is defined as..."what you are all about and where you want to be going professionally." (p.122)

Boyton and Fischer provide some guiding questions such as..

Do I enjoy spending time and energy on this initiative?
Do I want to be known as the person who brought this idea to life?

2. Focus on One Idea at a Time
...and most importantly "structure your idea so that it requires no more change than is absolutely necessary." (p. 124)

3. What Keeps your Boss up at Night?
This is called the "Hot-button" principle. (p124) You are more likely to have your ideas accepted if you can link it to your Boss...not this one.

4. Your Idea is a Bit Better... Cause Why?
The way to make your idea appealing..."frame your idea as extending and improving an existing idea." (p.125)

5. Find Guinea Pigs
Before you go "public" with an idea, try it out! (p.125)

6. Why Should They Care?
Just like anything...let others know what's in it for them. (p.126)

So there you go, some guidelines to get you started...

Until Next Time,
Lit Maven Out!

Who's Charged Up? Wil Smith is! Ideas to Change Education

So where were we...

A few posts ago, Dawson found himself learning about being a conversation continuer or a terminator. I think we can all agree that the only time to be a conversation terminator is when you are suffering from low blood glucose...

Today let's discuss even more ways to carry on the conversation.

Here is a little homage to John Hughes

Here is an example of a really poor conversation.


Okay so what can you do to be a continuer...

Here are some ideas from Idea-Busters and Idea-Builders

Idea-Busters vs. Idea-Builders

It just doesn't grab me vs. Tell me more
Who's going to do it vs. Here's a way to do it
It's been done to death vs. Let's do it better (or differently)
We can't afford that vs. Let's figure out a way to pay for it
Don't fight the system vs. Let's change the system

Now if you want something to pump you up for great educational conversations...



Until Next Time,
Lit Maven Out!