mLearning-Evaluating the Nook Tablet for Elementary School

I chose "Evaluating the Nook Tablet for an Elementary School" for today's entry. This article is discussing a school that is considering purchasing 30 tablets, enough to accommodate one class at a time when they visit the library. Currently, the school purchases 30 books at at a time for these reading groups, so, the hope is that digital books will save money. However, they found out that digital versions are often as expensive as a bound paper copy, so it would take a long time to make up for the purchase price of the tablet (about $199). The other school of thought in the group was that the benefit to the tablet purchases is the exposure to technology.

In order to justify this reasoning, the writer looked at the durability of the digital book, and indeed it won't get tattered. The writer also looked at the school's web access, because the school subscribes to some web-based services that provide games and learning activities for children, the kids would be able to access these services through the Nook Color Tablet.

Also, there is a rather large library of apps for the Nook, and there are many apps for kids and most only cost a dollar or two. Nook books can also be accessed on iPads, iPhones, iPod touch handhelds, Android phones, Android tablets, Windows PCs, and Macs. So, if the school decides to replace them in the future with iPads, the titles will be available on other platforms. However, Nook apps are not cross-platform compatible, as is the Kindle Fire. So the question is would the Kindle Fire be a better option?

In my opinion, I think the Kindle Fire may be a better investment because it is cross-platform accessible and operates Google's Android operating system, which will be around for the forseeable future and has many apps. As an educator, I think the Kindle Fire or the Nook would be great investments for the school, not to purchase technology just for technology's sake but clearly because the Nook is durable, has access to the Web and has apps. I think students should experience digital books in order to feel comfortable with today's technology. I also like the audio option where the voice reads the story aloud to the student. I would opt for the Kindle Fire, however, if the Nook was the only choice, I would assuredly say "go for it!"