Using Ebooks with Gifted and Advanced Readers by Christine L

Promoting Reading: The book itself is one of the foun- students can begin using eBooks with Because of their ability to understand dations of modern education. But, little or no cost. the nuances of language, make con- today there is a new book available Gifted readers in particular can nections, and deal with the abstract, to educators, one that integrates new benefit from the added tools and vari- gifted readers like provocative stories technologies. Today’s technology ety afforded by eBooks. This article and solving plots with twists. Books Tenhanced book is called an electronic will provide suggestions for using with gifted characters or multidimen- book, or eBook. EBooks are textual eBook technology to promote reading sional characters are also appealing. documents that have been converted with gifted and advanced learners. Abilock (1999) identified five and “published” in an electronic for- facts about gifted readers: mat and are displayed on eBook read- Characteristics of Gifted 1. gifted readers are skilled, flexible ers, devices, or computers using eBook readers who read often; software programs. This new form of Readers book is a relatively recent addition to 2. gifted readers monitor their read- book styles and offers students, teach- Gifted readers often read earlier ing; ers, and schools an additional tool for than the typical student and tend to 3. linguistically rich texts are espe- the teaching of reading and the inte- read independently soon after teacher cially suited to gifted readers; gration of reading into content areas. instruction. They also tend to be bet- 4. gifted readers use other strengths Using the technology resources of ter readers, requiring less drill for mas- in response to the particular computers and Internet access that are tery of skills (Halsted, 1990). Gifted demands of the text; and already present in homes, classrooms, readers can digest a large quantity of 5. gifted readers are passionate read- and libraries, parents, educators, and information about a topic of interest. ers who find books to love. 56 fall 2006 • vol 29, no 4 Using eBooks With Gifted and Advanced Readers by Christine L. Weber and Terence W. Cavanaugh Catron and Wingenbach’s research present text, just as a paper-based book at school and home in their publication identifies specific skills gifted readers can, they also contain features that can Your Gifted Child and Reading: How to possess (as cited in Vosslamber, 2002, be classified as accommodations or as Identify and Support Advanced Literacy p. 15): assistive technology tools for reading. Development (Israel & Murphy, 2003). • anticipation of meaning based on EBooks can provide these accommoda- They also provide book selections for visual clues; tions for reading by providing alterna- gifted children including picture books, • use of prior knowledge and experi- tive formats, scaffolds, and supports for short chapter books, medium and lon- ence, personal identification, and reading activities to reach all students, ger chapter books, books about being reader purpose; and including gifted and advanced read- gifted, favorite genres of gifted readers, • awareness of cognitive processing ers. Some of the accommodating fea- and recommended reading for parents. of a text for information/concept tures that eBooks can provide include: Each of those categories has books avail- gathering. Links are made between adjustable text size, highlighting, book- able in eBook formats. the present text and what the marking, note taking, interactive dic- reader has previously read, and, tionaries, and reading aloud through as a result, concepts are formed or text-to-speech software. EBook Technology developed. Parents who homeschool their gifted child may find that eBooks allow them to EBooks, like many other forms These facts and skills are impor- adapt their child’s curricula to meet their of computer technology, have three tant when considering using eBooks specific needs, interests, and abilities. basic components: hardware, soft- to promote reading with gifted readers. The International Reading Association ware, and the eBook file. The hard- Whereas eBooks can be used as a tool to provides general suggestions for parents ware of an eBook, known as a reader, gifted child today 5 Using eBooks With Gifted and Advanced Readers Table 1 Five major eBooks formats (all free software programs) and operating platforms Web (html/ text Adobe Acrobat Microsoft Reader Palm Reader xml) Reader Windows desktops Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Windows laptops Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Windows tablets Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Windows handheld devices Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Apple desktops Yes Yes Yes Yes (new models only) Yes Apple laptops Yes Yes Yes Yes (new models only) Yes Palm handheld devices Yes Yes Yes No Yes A wide variety of eBooks options exist today. Five of the most com- mon eBook formats for reading off a desktop computer or handheld device are text, Web, Adobe Reader, Palm Reader, and Microsoft Reader (see Figure 2). Other specialized eBook formats include CD storybooks and talking book devices like LeapFrog’s LeapPad. One familiar variety of electronic book is audiobooks such as books on tape and books on disc. This audiobook format has now expanded to include books on MP3, which have been read aloud by people or machines using a text-to-speech program. While not fitting the traditional definition of a book because most television programs and movies are close captioned, Figure 1. A desktop computer running Palm Reader (eReader) a running text of dialog, in essence, eBook software. creates an electronic book. Many kinds of eBooks are avail- is a computer style device or a com- to use (see Table 1). For example MS able today. The books range from puter running specific software that Reader software can be used only on copyright free texts of classic litera- ture, science, and philosophy to cur- displays the “book” onto a screen (see a new Macintosh computer (models rent bestsellers. There are three basic Figure 1). The software is the program made in and after 2006), but Palm that displays the book data on the methods of obtaining eBooks for the Reader (eReader) software can be used device. The eBook file contains all of home, classroom, or school for little or the book material: text, pictures, and on a Palm, Mac, or Windows device. no cost. You can purchase an eBook other media and resources. The hard- MS Reader software understands .lit from a store, you can download or use ware, software, and file type must all files, whereas Palm Reader under- an eBook from a free online library, or be compatible for any book you wish stands .pdb and .prc file types. students can design their own eBooks. 5 fall 2006 • vol 29, no 4 Using eBooks With Gifted and Advanced Readers sure to (1) new and challenging information, (2) varied subjects, (3) areas of interest, and (4) difficult vocabulary and concepts. Gifted readers can also be exposed to ideas and issues appropriate to their own rate of learning and continue to pursue answers to ques- tions beyond what might be consid- ered in an allotted span of time. Gifted readers are so advanced that challenging materials must be made available. Children’s varied and unique interests need to be nurtured. Gifted readers may be in jeopardy of losing sight of their schools as the place to find challenging books because they don’t find and interact with appropriate materials (Brown & Rogan, 1983). EBooks can provide an avenue for parents and teachers to help Figure 2. Handheld or computing devices running eBook gifted readers grow intellectually. By programs. using eBooks, teachers, parents, and students can create, often at no cost, a Current bestsellers are available the online eBook resources. Gutenberg greater diversity in the available read- from online bookstores for purchase has more than 10,000 copyright free ing material, including materials at a and download. Audiobooks from publications from their first, Alice in wide range of readability levels. Audible (http://www.audible.com) Wonderland, to the Human Genome Reis, Gubbins, and Richards include recent fiction, nonfiction, and Project. Some of the online libraries (2001) recommend gifted readers have other broadcast media. Some online store and distribute books in multiple access to an array of classroom and bookstores like ContentLink (http:// formats, and some of these libraries library books. On the Web, teachers, www.contentlinkinc.com) only sell have become specialized with collec- parents, and students can find sites digital books. Other online bookstores, tions aimed at specific languages, con- with single books, special collections, for example Amazon (http://www.ama- tent areas, or age groups. A large part and entire online libraries, many of which make their books available zon.com), sell not only hard cover and of many of the free libraries’ eBook at no cost to the reader. These elec- paperback books but also audiobooks collections are works that have passed tronic forms of books and libraries and eBooks for the Adobe Reader, MS into the public domain, and they may are expanding opportunities for stu- Reader, and Palm Reader programs. be found in many of the libraries. Visit http://www.drscavanaugh.org/ebooks/ dents to have access to books. Using People are not limited to purchas- these resources, a reader can often find ing eBooks from retailers. There are a ebook_libraries.htm for more than 95 free eBook resources. related titles, such as other books in a great number of online free libraries series or by the same author, which may and even a number of physical librar- not be available at either the school or ies (those big brick building ones) that Using EBooks local public library. For example, most contain and make available a large With Gifted Readers libraries have the children’s favorite The number of eBooks.

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