Educational Technology Horizons

Campus Computing Survey results show Blackboard losing market share, mobile computing on the rise | Inside Higher Ed

2011-10-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

Mobile apps powered by the LMS is analogous to putting a Ferrari body on a Pinto chassis and engine. It will look great but have very little go. If "Mobile Picks Up Speed" means that, there is a huge opportunity for an institution the truly understands m-Learning.

Campus Computing Survey results show Blackboard losing market share, mobile computing on the rise | Inside Higher Ed

The distance education game changer

2010-06-08T08:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Apple announced its iPhone 4 with iOS 4. By all accounts, the device is an amazing piece of technology but hardware alone will not “change the game.” Over the past few months, Apple has been feuding with Gizmodo for releasing picture of the iPhone 4 hardware it obtained from a device “lost” in a California pub. Probably more of a publicity stunt by Apple, the pictures release a few months ago had a tantalizing clue to Apple’s vision of the future. The forward facing camera certainly indicated that video conferencing was on its way, but until yesterday’s introduction and demonstration of Facetime, it was hard to believe that a device so small could deliver a high quality video conference. Amazingly, the technology operating with few hiccups and seem to be extremely appealing for educators. It remains to be seen if carriers like AT&T and Verizon can produce the bandwidth necessary to make instant video conferenceing ubiquitous, but given the potential there is no doubt that this technology can be a “game changer” for distance education.

Virtualization, another health education trend

2010-05-08T09:32:00.001-07:00

As organizations, most universities have committed the resources and personnel to building an independent and flexible structure for the education of their students. The delivery of a large infrastructure projects are of paramount global importance, but what fine structure needs to be created to support that endeavor?

That brings us back to the question of current infrastructure. Most universities implement a traditional client-server base infrastructure. This infrastructure is characterized by large number of PCs and small number of servers being supported by personnel at the desktop. This creates a situation where the majority of your IT staff’s time is spent at the desktop supporting end-users.

This is the typical dilemma of the IT department under this type of infrastructure, but with today’s technology, is it time to think outside the box for other solutions?

The simple answer is yes. As a educational institution, today’s universities have a unique opportunity to construct an environment that will serve them for many years to come. Universities should invest in the technologies of the future to support growing enterprises. What will the technology infrastructure of the academy look like in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years?

Since technology is constantly changing, it is important to watch the trends in the industry. After much reading, research, and watching industry trends, the conclusion has been reached that the future of the educational workstation is in virtual technology. This is not just virtual desktop installation, but a completely virtual installation that will give the user the most freedom, but with most security for IT. The PC support technician of tomorrow will be a server administrator managing virtual machines, applications and profiles running on centralized computers housed in a datacenter.

What is virtualization? In computing, virtualization is the abstraction of computing resources. It detaches the operating system from specific PC hardware and delivers a virtual environment. Additionally, virtualization allows for the delivery of application resources without affecting the base operating system.

All of the current vitalization models on the market today are trying to compete for the IT dollar. In essence the competition is between Application Virtualization vs. OS Virtualization. Once one digs past the marketing hype of the products, it is discovered that the usage of these technologies are independent and have very little overlap in the datacenter space. In other words, application virtualization does not replace operating system virtualization or vice versa; they complement each other. Taken together, they can provide a new, powerful, and secure experience for the enterprise end user.

This partnership between competing virtualization technologies is the future of the business desktop. This melding of concepts will produce a situation where the PC support for faculty and students in an organization will be done by a server administrator reducing response times.

Universities should invest its time and money building an infrastructure that will be fast and flexible in the year 2012 and beyond. That investment should position the infrastructure to utilize the coming desktop revolution. PC infrastructure dollars should be invested in three key technologies; Virtualized Desktops, Application Virtualization, and ubiquitous remote computing infrastructure.

This will provide for the building of a completely virtualized network that will allow for higher degree of security for information, but give more flexibility for users than they have ever had before. This unique vision will allow institutions to deliver highly available resources to learning communities.

By leveraging virtualization, a university would create centralized desktops in the data center that can follow a user to any terminal. The combination of these technologies will allow for a completely secure and locked-down PC environment, but will allow users to install virtual applications on their desktop. Once the user is empowered, that individual can install only approved applications and security can be assured that individual users are not installing viruses or malware on their desktops.

This new model presents the most flexible experience for our users, allows for IT to comply with licensing agreements, and provides the most secure computing environment for faculty and student. Centralized data and desktops are the most cost effective and secure methods to provide services to users. Technology has brought the desktop full circle to its terminal past.

Distributed Learning and Emerging Technology

2010-05-07T08:13:00.000-07:00

Technology is great, but what we see today is emerging instruction. Social media and interaction is changing how individuals learn. Increasingly, our educational experience both formally and informally are highly mobile, interactive and distributed. True understanding of information requires an individual go through an experiential process of connecting underlying facts in such a way as to construct an individual understanding of a concept (Kant, 1781; Knowles, 1980; Merriam, Caffarella and Baumgarner, 2007). In the past that experiential process in many cases was much more linear than it is today. Recognizing those facts and focusing on future technologies indicate a type of education that is less didactic, less linear and more gear to providing information-on-demand and opportunities for the individual to construct their own meaning. In other words, the process becomes as important as the destination.

Systems of the future will increasingly be object-oriented, platform independent, use artificial intelligence, and in the very distant future be accessed via neural implants. Indicates a future where students experience learning in a more tangible way. Programs, services, and social networks will be flexible and tailored to enhance student and faculty interactions while supporting independent and individual styles of learning. Information technology will provide a service that will create and nurture a community of learning making information resources ubiquitous and universal, securely available to everyone, at anytime, from anyplace.

Merriam, S.B., Caffarella, R.S., & Baumgartner, L.M. (2007). Learning in adulthood: A comprehensive guide . San Francisco, Ca: John Wiley & Sons, INC..
Kant, I. (1781). The Critique of Pure Reason. Hampshire, England: Palgrave Macmillian (original Work Published In 1781).
Knowles, M.S. (1980). The modern practice of adult education: From pedagogy to andragogy. Chicago, Illinois: Associated Press.

Instructional Design and Rich Media

2010-04-30T08:36:00.001-07:00

I was slightly disappointed in the chapters of the book, Trends and Issues In Instructional Design and Technology, when discussing instructional design for corporate and military. The tone seems to be one of advice on what and what not to do as an ID consultant for corporations and especially the readings about the military. Regardless of my impression of the writing, the chapters did bring forward some excellent information about instructional design within the context of those two systems.

The concept of rapid prototyping appeals to my training as a computer programmer. In an earlier post I referenced RUP as being similar to research design. Obviously, rapid prototyping is much like RUP as well, as Dr. Lou pointed out to me. The earlier you can get a product, be it software or instruction, in the hands of the client, the better the result and in a much reduced time frame.

The concept of team building that is stressed in the military can be used in everyday education. Using small, teams, or social groups can greatly enhance the education of students. Additionally, the use of simulations in the military has a long history. During WWII the Army Aircorp would take those soldiers that man B-57 gun turrets in the backs of trucks driving on bumpy dirt roads. Each GI had a shotgun and they were required to shoot clay pigeons that popped up out of seemingly nowhere to learn how to lead a target. This exercise was designed to simulate shooting at German/Japanese aircraft during combat.

Today’s military has taken the simulation practice to another level. Not only do they train their own soldiers in tactics and teamwork during their rigorous training program, they begin that training before they are even enlisted. In 2003, the US Army launched a first person shooter game called America’s Army (http://www.americasarmy.com/). This simulation is not only a recruiting tool for the Army, it is a massively multiplayer online game where the game player joins units and must operate within the structure of that unit. The game teaching the potential recruits unit tactics and the culture of the Army and is a good example of instructional design meeting a great rich media platform.

Change is easy; transition is hard

2010-04-20T08:37:00.000-07:00

I once read a book that stated that change is easy; transition is hard. Having review the concepts of piecemeal versus systemic change, I find it hard to believe than any organization of significant size can actually perform a systemic change if the same personnel will be used in the reorganization. If you picture organizations like ocean liners, one could characterize these organizations as massive with little rudders. The chapters equated piecemeal change to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. To take the analogy further, implementing change and transition at the systemic level like SUTE and GSTE is akin to changing the rudder on the Titanic while it is headed for the iceberg. The result can be significantly worse than expected. The size of the organization will have an effect on its ability to change and how that change must take place. I think in many cases our desire is to have systemic change because we want the end product as fast as possible, but piecemeal is an excellent approach for large entities.

What I find interesting in our book, Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology, is that it speaks of problem versus process or piecemeal versus systemic. The true fact is that in my experience the best form of change that helps people accepts transition is one that is systemic implemented via a piecemeal process. The only advantage that a true systemic change gives the organization is speed. Does the benefits of speed out weight the affects of the transition? In many cases it does not so the concept should be a process of systematically approaching the concept laid-out in the systemic change.

Informal Learning, the Apple iPad and Richard Clark

2010-04-07T07:27:00.000-07:00

I recently participated in a class debate on the affects of rich media on learning. Richard Clark authored one of the position paper for the debate in 1983. Clark’s research is based on the statement, “What affect does different media have on learning?” In his findings, he states, “there is no learning benefits to be gained from employing any specific medium to deliver instruction” (Clark, 1983) and I asked was this the correct question to ask for today’s generation of students?

I my initial debate reply I stated, “the Internet is a phenomenon that has allowed individuals to transcend traditional barriers of location and time. As a species our success has been defined by our ability to pool talent, knowledge and resources within a social network. Our entire understanding of life and the universe comes from our ability to gather and develop concepts within a social an “arena-of-ideas”. It stands to reason that the vehicle of that connection would have some effect on learning. Broadcast media once primarily dominated our society, but today’s culture now operates in an interactive, information-on-demand world. Has changes in society and its preferred media usage, the Internet, relegated Clark’s research to a bygone era of a society dominated by broadcast learners obtaining their information in a passive media via the lecture, newspapers, and television sets watching the nightly news?”

I still stand by the thoughts and another new technology just released makes me think Clark's observations are correct for a different era. I would like to transport the Clark of 1983 to the present and hand him the Apple iPad. Over the past two days the amount of informal learning and instruction that I participated in because of and on this device is interesting. Over the past 48 hours simply ‘playing’ with this device I have learned more about gesturing on computers, read Mark Twain’s “A Connecticut Yankee in King Author’s Court” and conducted numerous informal sessions with individuals, including administration where I was able to preach the good word of instructional technology. I am not sure what affect the device has had on my learning, but it is hard to think there has been no affect.

HPI and EPSS

2010-03-31T17:28:00.001-07:00

The core of HPI is humans and their importance. As a consultant for many years, I have met with many mayors or chief executive officers to discuss some information technology process to improve efficiency. In the majority of those cases, the person I was speaking with was taken back when I inform the individual that software cannot improve performance. My mantra, “Software is good, but people make the difference.” I believe that is the essence of human performance technology.

An additional level of shock for this manager is the second concept that it is a total team effort not an IT project. The moral of my story for educational and business institutions is to not believe the salesman hype; IT is about people, not hardware and software (that is the easy part). People are the key to the success of any enterprise software implementation. Software will only be as good as the process that feed it and how much the people believe in those processes. This is the essence of human performance improvement.

Another element of HPI that is important is the concept of data driven decisions for performance improvement. Going back to my example of IT project implementation, many of the administrators I interface with are surprised when I tell them that implementation is a never-ending process that goes on as long as software is being used. Changing processes results in changes to software. One of the elements of HPI is the concept of assessment for process improvement.

EPSS is an interesting concept and over the past 10 years it has been implemented in many different ways. The most common EPSS that most people have experience with is a knowledge base. The problem with EPSS concepts is that it is nearly impossible to keep the most up-to-date information in a system to make it the most efficient. In many cases, the feeding information into the monster can become a much more daunting job than simply not using the EPSS.

Additionally, for an EPSS to be truly effective, it must do a certain amount of “thinking” and “anticipation” for the most effective information to be presented. A true EPSS will not just present the results of a search string; it will begin to anticipate what you mean by the search string. One of the first examples of this concept is the new search engine, Bing. By its definition, “Bing is a search engine that finds and organizes the answers you need so you can make faster, more informed decisions.” Until a computer can anticipate what someone “wants”, the EPSS concept will never reach its full potential.

http://www.bing.com

Design Research and RUP

2010-03-12T08:11:00.000-08:00

When reading and contemplating Design Research, I am struck with the commonality the concept has to a well known software engineering methodology. Interestingly, evaluating learning science versus instructional design can, in many ways, be connected to the same comparison of RUP vs. the Waterfall software engineering methodology.

RUP (Rational Unified Process) consist of a software development method that is not a single concrete prescription process, but it is a framework intended to tailor the development phase to appropriate trajectory for a specific software development outcome. It differentiates itself from more traditional software methodology, Waterfall, in that is a process of constant adjustments of micro cycles of development followed by an evaluation at the end of a macro cycle.

Like in Design Research, each iteration, or micro cycle, requires the developer to deliver a product to a customer and review assess that activity. Adjustments are made to the software to make more effective for the end user. In this respect, RUP and Design Research are in essence the same methodology with different purposes, one is to produce software the other is to produce learning. Inherently, both processes are intended to be domain specific by the nature of addressing a specific issue within a domain.

Over my career, I have found that RUP is a software development technique effective for obtaining superior results and quicker than other methods in many cases. The method works well for both software development and project management tasks. Knowing this, I can see how Design Research could produce a very effective domain specific learning theory assuming the learning trajectory pursues a clearly state outcome at the end of the process.

IBM Rational Unified Process (RUP)
ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/rational/web/datasheets/RUP_DS.pdf

Planning, Budgeting, Funding, Assessment, oh my

2010-03-11T08:18:00.000-08:00

Recently, I had the opportunity to review Kirkpatrick’s Four-Level Evaluation model. In his model, Kirkpatrick defines a process by which corporations can evaluate training programs. His evaluation process is constructed on the following basis: how learners react to the learning process (reaction), the extent to which learners gain knowledge and skills (learning), capability to of students to perform learned skills on the job (behavior), and results using items such as monetary, efficiency, moral, etc (results).

In this model I can see a useful tool for assessment, but it may not account for the three other steps in the process of a successful development program; planning, budgeting, and funding. One could imply that assessment is the only necessary step because inherent in good training, the other elements of planning, budgeting and funding must exist. I contend that may not be the case.

Planning, budgeting, and funding, in addition to assessment, are key ingredients to a successful development program. It is important to view development holistically for the ways it can facilitate learning. Developing projects with the proper academic focus and fiscal responsibility can only be accomplished through a process of shared governance and based on institutional priorities. A poor planning process can still produce a successfully evaluated training program that has very little value to the overall institutional goals.

The act of planning is very important to ultimate success of projects, but planning cannot be conducted within a vacuum it requires input. It can be said that planning without budgeting is nothing more than wishful thinking. It is important to develop plans and make sure those plans are included in the budgeting process in a meaningful way.

This increasing dedication of precious IT dollars to maintenance as oppose to funding new instructional innovation has force institutions to find many different sources of funding. With the increased pressure, it is important to identify dedicated sources of funding for development that is continued and lasting. A training program can be developed and funded, but if there is a lack of overall funding post-training, although the program itself may be deemed a success, the entire purpose for the development can be a failure or simply stagnate.

Although the bedrock of the academy has been critical analysis and research, few institutions have embraced the concept of assessment for administrative purposes. In this respect, Kirkpatrick's levels of evaluation is a step forward. Comprehensive assessments of development programs are vitally important to prevent uninformed decisions and misdirecting of precious funding. Assessment is an important weapon in the arsenal of the technologist, but it alone cannot insure success.

Introduction on Kirkpatrick’s 4 levels of evaluation  
http://www.skagitwatershed.org/~donclark/hrd/isd/kirkpatrick.html

Let the games begin

2010-02-02T07:53:00.000-08:00

After years of toiling in obscurity, it seems that the "tablet" PC concept is being revisited in a big way. Microsoft has been working for over a decade to make the tablet a commercial reality, but with little success. Apple's introduction of the iPad has sparked the interest of the public and educators. Just recently, photos of a Chrome based tablet device, by Google, was "leaked" to the public. As an educator, I can see these devices being useful in many context, but to date the superior concept is still the booklet design by Microsoft. Hopefully what may be turn into a product war between Google, Apple and Microsoft will produce a device that can replace the textbook and allow for natural writing.

The must have concept: Microsoft Courier Concept Video

Where have we been all these years?

2010-02-01T09:05:00.000-08:00

The history of educational technology is interesting insomuch as the focus has shifted away from the technology. In today’s educational environment, technology can be used as an alternative modality to deliver instruction to a digital generation of students but can and should never take the place of good instructional activities. I agree with Eldringhoff’s assessment on his blog where he correctly identifies too much attention has been focused on the "technology" to see if it "makes a difference." I believe as educators we should focus on the instructional technique to see if that "makes a difference" and plug in the technology to fit the need.

This is reflected in the focusing over the history of the field from technology to process. All too often technology is viewed from a purely academic or administrative perspective. It is important to view technology holistically for the ways it can facilitate learning with today’s student. In the past there was a “field-of-dreams” mentality of administration to acquire technological stuff assuming proficiency would soon follow. To an extent, that philosophy has worked but has never produced overwhelming results that did not see technology become the victim of the first budget cuts during rough fiscal periods.

The ultimate purpose of any instructional technology project is to increase the knowledge of the student. In today’s educational environment, technology can be used as an alternative modality to deliver instruction to a digital generation of students. Modality is independent of instructional technique. The use of technology should always be for the promotion of student learning and effective instruction.

How does the e-learning environment influence learning?

2010-01-31T09:34:00.000-08:00

How e-Learning environments influence learning will depend on how one intends to use that structure in the process of instruction. For instance, one can setup a sophisticated decentralized dynamic instructional setting, but if “sage-on-the-stage” instructional techniques are the primary method of information delivery, I doubt the environment will have any significant influence over learning. On the other hand, if one considers basic instructional principles, understands the strengths and weaknesses of different e-Learning techniques, then with an engaging assignment designed around a specific environment, that setting could have a greater influence over learning.

When I read the definition of e-Learning provided in the post, I see instructional theory and not a modality. In my opinion, Malcolm Knowles described the modern e-Learning environment in his book, The Modern Practice of Adult Education: From Pedagogy to Andragogy. Knowles’s principles are well suited for the modern e-Learning environment. In his 1980 book, Malcolm Knowles presented four principles of adult education: that adults need to be involved in the planning and evaluation of their instruction, that adults need experience including mistakes to provide a basis for learning activities, adults are most interested in learning subjects that have immediate relevance to their job or personal life and adult learning is problem-centered rather than content-oriented (Knowles, 1980).

From a constructivist point of view, the provided definition “E-learning environments are generally considered unbounded, asynchronous and synchronous, decentralized control, dynamic, searchable, multidimensional, and use of evolving technologies” one can see those Knowlesian principles at work. “Unbounded, decentralized control” implies that the faculty member is no longer in complete control of instruction and by definition the student is in more control of the instructional experience. “Dynamic, searchable, multidimensional” implies a certain amount of experiential learning. The relevance to one’s life is “discovered” during the learning process, as the student is able to mold the subject material to their own wants, needs and desires.

Finally, the answer to the question, “How does the e-learning environment influence learning?”, is that it depends. It depends on how the instructor chooses to present material and how the environment is used during that presentation. E-Learning conjures up visions of technology, students working “at-a-distance” and detachment. Nothing could be further from the truth. E-Learning as defined in the post can take place in a “traditional” classroom settings.

Knowles, M.S. (1980). The modern practice of adult education: From pedagogy to andragogy, Chicago, Illinois: Associated Press.

Apple Announces Tablet

2010-01-28T08:23:00.000-08:00

The rumors of Apple producing a "revolutionary" tablet PC device has been swirling around the internet for the past couple of years. The possibilities of ubiquitous computing as well as a electronic book device saving the backs of many students has become the holy grail for many educational technologist. Entire conferences like WIPTE have been developed to show the educational benefits of pen-technology. With Apple's track record of re-imagining technology and user interfaces, there has been a natural conclusion that this new tablet can be "the one." Imaging Apple doing for the tablet PC concept what they did for the smart-phone.

Yesterday, Apple released its long awaited "tablet" device called the iPad; or as I like to call it "a neat piece of fool's gold." Overall I must say that it is a massive disappointment. There is nothing revolutionary about this device, in fact, in many ways it is inferior to the Amazon Kindle or B&N nook. The iPad with its 9.7" screen is nothing more than a large iPod touch or iPhone if you get the 3G version. There is no stylus and seems to be no annotation function on the device. With no handwriting recognition ability on the device, input is accomplished via a "soft" keyboard on the screen. That would be a nightmare for any student trying to annotate in the margins of a document or anyone trying to use this device to replace traditional textbooks.

I am not predicting a "flop" for this device from a consumer business stand-point. In the long term with a software development kit maybe someone can find a use for this device, but it is not anything new or revolutionary for today's students. So the hunt continues...

Collect, select and reflect

2010-01-28T08:08:00.000-08:00

Original Post: Jan 5, 2009 - Submitted by Eric Seneca
OLOL College Horizons

With the holidays, I have been a bit lax in keeping my technology blog updated. I have begun to reconstruct the introductory computer application course to incorporate new service learning assignments as well as portfolio for the final project of the class. As Dr. Blalock is fond of saying, collect, select and reflect. The more I read about the portfolio process, the more I have come to understand how inline with Knowles's principles of experience and student self-determination.

I am happy to report that all equipment for the Mobile Learning Center has been ordered and is expected to arrive within the next two weeks. On another note, Dr. Reddix has informed me that our panel presentation has been accepted by the Gulf South Summit Meeting for 2010. The Mobile Learning Center presentation will be coupled with other examples of how service learning can be used across the curricula.

Update: e-Book Reader

2010-01-28T07:57:00.000-08:00

Original Post: Dec 18, 2009 - Submitted by Eric Seneca
OLOL College Horizons

I have been monitoring the e-Book devices since October. The new Kindle DX is still suffering from functionality problems and the reviews of the Barnes & Noble nook are no promising. Currently, there is a growing rumor mill of Apple releasing a tablet PC device next month.

Thanks to Dr. Blalock for tuning me into the Microsoft Courier concept. The Microosft Courier concept is a dual screen booklet. The concept looks friendly and a natural fit for educational purposes. If such a device is developed it can address many of the annotation issues experienced by Kindle and nook users. The booklet concept seems to have real promise for education and business.

Here is a leaked concept video confirmed authentic by Gizmodo.

Update: Mobile Learning Center

2010-01-28T07:43:00.000-08:00

Original Post: Nov 16, 2009 - Submitted by Eric Seneca
OLOL College Horizons

Exciting news today! I have been awarded Sr. Bends Mary Ronayne Endowed Professorship grant to fund the construction of the Mobile Learning Center. The award is for a total of $6,000 over a two year period. With these funds I will be able to double the size of the original center from 7 to 14 computers. I am confident that the introduction of service learning into the computer application course will make it much more interesting for student as well as provide a valuable experiential learning opportunity.

Mobile Learning Center (MLC): Providing 21st century skills for life

2010-01-28T07:36:00.000-08:00

Original Post: Oct 29, 2009 - Submitted by Eric Seneca
OLOL College Horizons

Life in the 21^st century requires skills that must be taught to young and older students alike. The Office of Service Learning has identified a number of areas where essential technology literacy is necessary for everyday life in a new global economy. The purpose of the Mobile Learning Center will be to help develop the foundational skills necessary for our students to function beyond the halls and walls of OLOL College. These skills will be developed via a process of informed trial-and-error while at the same time helping meet the needs of our community at large.

The Technology

The technology to accomplish this task is becoming cheaper and more powerful on a daily basis. The Mobile Learning Center (MLC) will be constructed using 7 portable laptop computer. The equipment will be taken to a pre-approved location and setup by students. Once setup, students will be required to teach technology skills to various citizens ranging in age from young children to senior citizens. It is expected that this opportunity can be used as on way the students can fulfill the service-learning requirement in the general education.

Learner Response Systems

2010-01-28T07:26:00.000-08:00

Original Post: Oct 7, 2009 - Submitted by Eric Seneca
OLOL College Horizons

Over the past year or two the rise of learner response system usage has been steady in higher education. The implications for learning are intriguing and the PTA program has pioneered the use of these devices. Increasingly, many of our faculty have voiced a desire to experiment with these devices. OLOL College is reviewing different devices via our Learning and Technology committee. To date, the Beyond Question product has not fulfilled our needs and the decision has been made to review other vendors and products. The benefit of instant assessment can greatly help both students and faculty.

The Amazon Kindle DX

2010-01-28T07:17:00.000-08:00

Original Post: Oct 2, 2009 - Submitted by Eric Seneca
OLOL College Horizons

The Amazon Kindle DX is a first generation e-Book reader designed to replace textbooks providing a cost savings to students. Current reviews of the Kindle DX are finding that students like the weight and size of the device, but have problems with annotation within an e-book. The other information being reported is that the Kindle DX is a bit slow. After using a Kindle, I find that the device is great for reading and requires some retraining to understand how to use the annotation functions of the device. I am not sure it will be a viable alternative to a traditional book given the configuration of the device but seems to be great for recreational reading.

Amazon Kindle DX