Immediately Proceed to the Capitol: Are Interactive Books Taking the Focus Away from Reading?

I'll admit it: I'm a huge Hunger Games fan. Absolutely love it. So when I saw last week that I could go to www.thecapitol.pn and register as a citizen of Panem, and get assigned a district and an occupation, I couldn't resist. Sure, it's kind of stupid, but hey, any way to incorporate a little more Hunger Games into my life is a welcome thing for me. So, I registered, was assigned District 3, and promptly forgot all about it. Until, a few days later, I received an e-mail that read: "IMMEDIATELY PROCEED TO THE CAPITOL FOR CITIZEN REGISTRATION." Needless to say, I was startled, but then I got totally excited: this was truly an interactive experience! Not simply a one-visit thing, I would be interacting with this website in ways I hadn't originally expected. I signed back on to The Capitol, received my occupation (I'm a technician, if anyone's interested) and my citizen number and proceeded to look around the website a little more. I truly felt like I was--at least in part--re-living the experience of the book.

That experience got me thinking about the relatively new trend of pairing books--particularly children's and young adult books--with technology in some way. There's the new Harry Potter website Pottermore.com which allows you to re-read the books with added information and actually mixes the social networking experience with the books; there are books with less-involved websites, and of course, the endless amount of movies being made from books. It all got me wondering: do these additional experiences outside of the reading of the actual book add to or take away from children's (or our own) experiences with literature? On the one hand, they may encourage reading in general and increase children's enthusiasm about and engagement with particular texts. On the other hand, I think these new technologies may unconsciously pass on the attitude that a book alone is not enough to entertain and delight kids--that they need something in addition to a good book to make it worthwhile.

Overall, I really enjoyed my Panem/Capitol experience and look forward to more from the site. I think in general, these additional book experiences outside of the text are positive for both children and adults; however, there may be a dark side that takes away from the simple experience of reading a book and leaving it wondering what might happen next. When you're not provided with a slew of other interpretations and options, it leaves you with only your own imagination--an experience that I think is good for all of us.

Integrating Technology in the Classroom

Most of us are already familiar with iPod's since it has become the biggest trend in MP3 players thus far.  However, the trend has taken an unexpected turn and now what used to be a burden to teachers is a useful and educational tool in the classroom.  That's right, teachers are ENCOURAGING the use of iPod's during the school day.  
The education system sees many benefits in using iPod Touch's in the classroom, especially within special education settings.  The Touch can function as an efficient educational tool inside and outside of the classroom.  Not only is it less expensive for schools to purchase iPod Touch's over other netbooks, but with free WiFi students and teachers can explore depths of education beyond the classroom walls by having more opportunities to use the web.  Its portability and low maintenance are yet another reason the iPod Touch is a great addition to the classroom, however the main reason I believe the integration of iPod's is beneficial is in the field of special education. 
 Assistive Technology is a huge "buzz word" in the world of disabilities today, and the iPod Touch is a perfect example of such technology.  While all students can gain a better education by using the Touch to solve math problems, read ebooks, and learn foreign languages, I feel that some students in special education can truly gain the most from using this technology.  
The iPod Touch can offer students with social disabilities, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, with a means of communication.  Many students on the spectrum are hindered by their inability to verbally communicate with others causing them to become frustrated by their lack-of-control over their own lives.  Those of you who have worked with students on the spectrum know that they are some of the brightest individuals out there, however without proper means of communication they can never live up to their full potential.    Using inexpensive and sometimes free apps found on the iPod Touch such as one called Proloquo2Go, students with ASD are able to touch icons that voice questions or comments so that they can communicate with others.  Other apps have built in scheduled activities so that students can simply touch a button to communicate about what they wish to do.  
The iPod Touch is a new, easy, and inexpensive alternative to the once popular text-to-speech machines that are more than five times the size and twenty times the cost of the Touch!  I truly believe that integrating iPod Touch's into the classroom will provide students with learning disabilities a more individualized education so that they can continue to grow as children in and outside of the classroom.

Shift Happens - Teaching, Technology, and Change

Shift Happens - Technology, Teaching and Employment


How do you think this is going to impact you personally and how might this impact education (both as a teacher and as a future or potential parent)? What does it make you think about and what does this mean for literacy and literature?