READING: A NECESSARY EVIL?...AND HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER!
Want to learn more about the importance of reading, check out this Tedtalk: https://youtu.be/muuWRKYi09s
As a youngster, I was not a fan of reading. Like many of my colleagues, I prefer the outside. I played sports and when not engaged in sports I ran amuck through the 26 mile long valley where I grew up in Southwest Virginia. I had little interest in school or reading, not because my parents did not place emphasis on it, but rather because it was not fun and I did not see the value in it. As a high school student, I did my reading and writing assignments. I read The Adventures of Huckleberry Fin, Our Town, The Scarlet Letter, To Kill a Mockingbird, Great Expectations, and the Bible to name a few. But I did not take away from the experience what I should have. Again, I was engaged in sports, I preferred math and science, and I had a full-time job as a night stocker at the local grocery store. As a youngster reading was not fun and as a teenager, it was not convenient. Enter the eReader.
I first learned to appreciate the eReader, in my case my Kindle during my undergraduate studies. I found that it would read to me while I was driving. I could bookmark material for later review. I could type (and now write) or dictate notes into the text that I could later print, or view, on one sheet as a notes sheet. I could easily cross reference with other works I was reading and tag them into my notes or combine notes. My Kindle really enhanced my learning experience and my overall education adventure. Plus, now that I picked what I was studying, the interest in the material, or the thirst for knowledge was there. Reading was fun and convenient.
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| Kindle combined with Audible |
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| Kindle Bookmarks, Highlights, and Notes |
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| Kindle Table of Contents |
Want to learn more about eReaders and how they can enrich your life, stop by again next week for reviews of some popular eReaders as well as some input from others on how they have used eReaders as a tool in learning and teaching.
In the interim, here are some more links you can check out to see
how eReaders are awesome.
https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/ten-advantages-book-readers.html
https://kitaboo.com/top-10-advantages-of-ebooks-over-printed-books/
Mike,
ReplyDeleteI look forward to following this blog. Growing up I was not much for reading myself. As I prepared to attend college and when I ultimately entered the legal field, reading became increasingly important. One of the things I absolutely could not stand as a young Soldier in the legal profession was having to carry multiple regulations and the MCM, among other books, to the Commander's office in order to assist him/her with executing an Article 15.
As a senior leader, I was afforded an opportunity to sit on a committee while I was assigned to Fort Polk (in 2009). As a committee, we explored the concept of every Soldier being issued an e-reader. For me, and the Engineer that sat on our committee, it was something we looked forward to exploring primarily because we were both in professions that required an enormous amount of regulations and manuals to perform our job. We tested a number of E-readers for durability, usability, connectivity etc. for a least a half dozen rotations. To my knowledge, nothing ever came of our study because I still don't see Soldiers being issued an E-reader, but I know discussions are still underway because Army Times brought it up again 3 years ago. https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2017/10/10/a-device-for-every-soldier-the-army-is-considering-it/
All said, I still believe there is something to be gained for Soldiers having access to an E-reader on the go. The need to quickly access and share information cannot be ignored. An E-reader provides the user an opportunity to quickly search for needed information wherever they may be located. E-readers allow Soldiers the opportunity to develop professionally through reading whenever they have a minute to spare.
I find this technology especially important in those professions that require a lot of regulations and manuals to do their job. I also believe E-readers enhance learning especially for adult learners because they can access learning material any time and anywhere. I look forward to reading your reviews about some popular e-readers.
Anthony
Anthony,
DeleteThank you for taking the time to read my blog and add valuable content to the discussion. It is fascinating that someday every Soldier may have an e-Reader. They do apply ready access to a multitude of information as well as afford the user to conduct research and find information on the go. Plus what Soldier doesn’t like the search function? No one wants to search through hundreds of pages! I look forward to you stopping by next week!
Mike
Mike,
ReplyDeleteI have never been a big reader. I only read when I was required to read, never for recreation. Like you, I grew up outside playing sports, mowing yards, jumping my BMX of the curb and working with my Father.
I have read a few books but unless the “The Hook” of the book captures my interest I usually struggle to completely absorb the story within the book. I find my mind wondering and have to re-read the page or pages that I read but did not read (does that make sense?).
I am not expecting our blog to be the one inspiration to get me on track to enjoy reading but I will give it a try.
-Andy E.
Correction:
DeleteI am not expecting "YOUR" blog to be the one inspiration to get me on track to enjoy reading but I will give it a try.
- Andy E.
Andy,
DeleteThank for stopping by my blog and I look forward to your future feedback. I also look forward to the challenge of inspiring you to read for recreation. Nothing like a good audiobook on a long drive or hike. Or an e-Textbook to help you get through those tedious and dull chapters for your graduate degree, coming out with notes and highlights that can be referred back to and searched.
Mike
Mike, I love my Kindle. I appreciate that it can go with me anywhere and that any book I could possible wish to read is at my fingertips within minutes. I do hope with the technology becoming more prevalent that it does not totally replace books. Nothing beats walking into an old library or a Barnes & Noble and being hit with that wonderful scent of books. I look forward to following your blog.
ReplyDelete-Mandy
Mandy,
DeleteThank you for stopping by my blog and for your comments. You are right, traditional books need to stay in circulation. All of my favorite books are in print. However, every book goes through the Kindle first, and oftentimes Audible. Something I love about Audible is if I don’t like a book for any reason, I can exchange it, no questions asked (figuratively). They do ask me to fill out a survey as to why I did not like the book (unrelated to the return) such as boring narration, not what I expected, not interesting etc. I look forward to our future engagements here on the e-Reader blog!
Mike
Mike,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I like the way you personalized the introductory part to introduce e-reader. Yes, like me or you not many youngsters are interested in readings. In order to have my son read the books, I have to give him a reward or force him to read books for 20 minutes before he goes to bed. However, he voluntarily enjoys online games all the time either alone or with his networked friends.
I personally like printed articles because I like taking notes on the printed materials, but I saw many people carry e-reader (e.g., Kindle) and read them in the airplane. It could be a personal style of medium. However, it is good to know various functions that I can use with e-reader. By reading your article, I am inclined to check its functions and see whether the functions in e-reader meet my need.
I am looking forward to reading more posts about e-reader.
Mike
ReplyDeleteI have and always have been a voracious reader. I read The Stand by Stephen King in three days, blew through the Harry Potter books in two weeks, and tend to read those huge books in just 3 to 4 days. I was very thankful for Kindle when it came out. Spending twenty-five dollars on a book that I read in three days is not fun. I love the additon of audible which I now use when I go on trips or long drives. I look forward to driving to Sante Fe and going through a book in one round trip. Books have always been a way to escape reality and live in my head at least in some very cool places. I look forward to reading some of your hacks for the kindle. I am sure there are features that I a not aware of us. I will continue to check in to see what new information you have.
Tammy
Tammy,
DeleteThank you for stopping by and for your comment. I too blow straight through books that interest me. I just finished reading “How Learning Works” by Ambrose et al to support my reading of “Human Learning” by Ormrod. I does a great job of connecting new information to experiences of others and making me reflect on my experiences in some of the scenarios used in the text. I got it on audible and listened to it last week while hiking/sledding in White Sands over the Labor Day weekend. I look forward to our future engagements on the blog.
Mike
Mike
DeleteThanks I will now have to check that out so I can get some insights into "Human Learning". I find it curious that Anthony mentioned E Readers as a way for Soldiers in regulation heavy jobs to have access. I wish the Army was more quick to adopt technology to make all of our lives easier. Wouldn't it be nice if whenever a new regulation, memorandum, or da pam was issued it would automatically pop up on our E- Readers. It would save us from the twenty emails informing us of the new regulation or update.
Tammy
Mike,
ReplyDeleteGreat post. You are correct reading was and now is more important than ever. With the way we communicate now, through email or text, reading is essential to the success of anyone. And just as you mentioned it is not just knowing what the written word is, it is understanding what is meant when a series of words are put together. Reading comprehension can only be developed by continues practice. It is also one of those skills that can be lost if not used.
Mike,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement that reading is important. I myself am not a reading enthusiast. However, I do realize the importance of reading and all of it’s benefits. Not only does it expand your mind but also your knowledge. It allows for a person to keep their mind sharp and be engaged in developing one’s imagination as well. This is of the utmost importance because they say you have to be healthy of mind, body, and soul. And I think reading definitely aids in a person’s well-being. As always thank you for sharing and great post.
Alex