SPECIAL GADGET REPORT

The Kindle Touch “Highlighting and Note-

taking”

By: Joanna Nieves

HISTORY OF THE KINDLE

November 2007 – the first Kindle was released

November 2007 – 88,000 titles available online

February 2009 – Kindle 2 is released May 2009 – Kindle DX is released July 2010 – Kindle 3 (with keyboard) is

released July 2010 – There are more than 650,000

available at the Kindle Store. December 2011 – Kindle Fire is released

TEACHING WITH THE KINDLE TOUCH

When I first learned that I was to receive a class set of Kindles, I was both excited and apprehensive.

I was grateful for the new form of technology.

I was afraid because it was “new.”

LESSON PLAN FOR CLASS Students will begin class by writing a journal entry,

which is a 25 word abstract explaining what happened in the previous chapter.

Students will then pass out Kindles to whole class. Students will open e-book, The Immortal Life of

Henrietta Lacks. Students will do this by using the 'Go To' feature in the menu bar.

Students will continue with the reading of Chapter 27 in the text.

Students will learn the highlighting and note-taking tools on the Kindle Touch today.

Students will finish reading Chapter 27 today. Students will conclude class by reviewing highlighting and note-taking techniques on the Kindle.

Students will close e-books, shut down Kindles, and return to shelf.

OPENING AN E-BOOK Take Kindle out of Sleeve Push on button at bottom of Kindle Book list will appear Choose book, by touching screen

HIGHLIGHTING FEATURE This feature is great for remembering

important information within a text.

NOTE-TAKING FEATURE This feature is used to take notes within

the text, eliminating the use of a notebook.

PICTURES OF KINDLES IN ACTION

MORE DATA Wi-Fi capabilities Can purchase books on Kindle Libraries are now on board with e-

readers Exchange books with friends Over 30 different features available on a

Kindle

TYPES OF KINDLES There are currently 6 types of Kindles

offered through Amazon.

Kindle Kindle Touch Kindle Touch 3G Kindle Keyboard Kindle DX Kindle Fire

KINDLE ISSUES WITHIN A CLASSROOM

One issue that we have found within the classroom, is that Kindles run on percentages, not by page numbers.

Hard for everyone to stay on the same page.

Bookmarks can be an issue.

Teenagers not following directions can also be an issue.

INFORMATIVE WEBSITES AND LINKS www.openlibrary.org This site is used to

borrow e-books from libraries. www.kindleworld.blogspot.com This site

is very informative site when learning how to use Kindles. Gives an open line of communication to other Kindle users.

www.amazon.com Of course, the creators of the Kindle will be able to answer questions, open a portal for buying, and offer technical support when needed.

REFLECTIONS After completing this lesson and reflecting on it, I have

come to the conclusion the Kindles are both good and bad for student use within a classroom. While it is easier to find the correct page within an actual novel, the ability to download virtually any book from the Internet is amazing. Most of the classic literature that is taught in class is free on Amazon, which makes purchasing books easy. I will admit that there are times that I miss the actual feel of a novel and there are times when I simply will use a novel over the Kindle. But, financially they are classroom efficient. While paying for 1 book, you are allowed 6 downloads with that purchase, so I only have to buy 5 e-books as opposed to 30 novels. So, financially it is a better product. The students seem to enjoy either form of literature. They like the features that the Kindles offer, but the miss the ease of a book. Overall, I am glad that I have the Kindles in my classroom and look forward to using them and learning more about them.