Group items tagged

Good summary of the dilemma with iPads and tablets: are they good readers or do that make distractions too available?

Great article. Since readers require a higher degree of motivation when reading any given book on a tablet (to actively ignore distractions), this puts more pressure on publishers/authors to make their content meaningful and engaging. Perhaps this might result in higher standards for books/fewer books being published?

A MOOC on gender roles in comic books now being offered through the Canvas network. 

Although print books win out (in survey) when reading to children... I just met a 5th grader who described reading more because of her Kindle.

Clark Aldrich's "The Complete Guide to Simulations and Serious Games" is a good complement to Prensky's books on the subject. We require both in our "eLearning Games" course at UB. The instructor of that course directed my to these two resources.

TED Talks Chip Kidd doesn't judge books by their cover, he creates covers that embody the book -- and he does it with a wicked sense of humor. In one of the funniest talks from TED2012, he shows the art and deep thought of his cover designs. This video is entertaining and picks up the content at 8:30. Kidd is an expert at grabbing someone's attention in a glance. Intriguing applications.

e-Readers are making staedy advances, becoming more and more like print books (only better?)

This article applies what we've learned about self-efficacy, interest, and engagement to literacy: "What makes a child an engaged reader?"

Thanks for sharing this, Stephanie. Part of my job is to select books for a reading & writing academy in Seoul, and after reading this article I realized that affective elements of reading play a significant role in my book selections.

Hi Stephanie - The author is listed as working for Reading is Fundamental, which is an organization I now follow for my work on the T545 class project. Part of their agenda is to "prepare and motivate children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to those children and families who need them most." They focus on reaching underserved children from birth to age 8. I am hoping my website project addresses some of the issues raised in this article. Thanks.

Kosslyn's definitive text on mental imagery. Shaped my views on the subject. Please "Like" this!

Devices like the iPad are new and fun and give children an incentive to read, including those who might be reluctant. It's a new motivation to explore reading. However, the concern is that parents rely too much on them and stop engagement with their young children.

Here is an ethnographer's in-depth look into World of Warcraft. From this site you can read the full book online, read an interview with the author, or listen to a podcast. The author "introduces us to her research strategy and the history, structure, and culture of Warcraft; argues for applying activity theory and theories of aesthetic experience to the study of gaming and play; and educates us on issues of gender, culture, and addiction as part of the play experience."

Another e-reader option

A book that argues video games are the key to human happiness?

Here's the link to it...

This wiki collects numerous resources regarding gamification: videos, books, examples of gamified websites, and explanations of specific game mechanics.

"Interactive books are everywhere, and have revolutionized the way people consume the printed word. With the recent software available to allow easy creation of interactive books and with the race to bring these products to market, there seems to be a more and more dilution of quality and a loss for the meaning of interactivity." ...And will they engage a larger group of readers than traditional flat text does? (Would love to see a study)

"In his book, What Video Games Have to Teach Us about Learning and Literacy, James Paul Gee derives a set of learning principles from his study of the complex, self-directed learning each game player undertakes as s/he encounters and masters a new game. He suggests that adherence to these principles could transform learning in schools, colleges and universities, both for teachers and faculty and, most importantly, for students."

The book is available for a free download. The author is the post of the article below. I have not read the book.

Marc Prensky, gaming guru. Author of a popular set of books on the subject.