Great video that shows the amazing features of the ebook.

What is an ebook?

An e-book (short for electronic book and also known as a digital book, ebook, and eBook) is an e-text that forms the digital media equivalent of a conventional printed book, sometimes restricted with a digital rights management system. An e-book, as defined by the Oxford Dictionary of English, is "an electronic version of a printed book which can be read on a personal computer or hand-held device designed specifically for this purpose". E-books are usually read on dedicated hardware devices known as e-Readers or e-book devices. Personal computers and some cell phones can also be used to read e-books.

This reference was taken from Wikipedia 

How it's used in the classroom?

Since the recent invention of the iPad, the idea of having an ebook reader in the classroom has become more possible. With a direct connection to the internet, virtually any book can be instantly downloaded and used in the classroom instantly. How the ebook will be used specifically in the class will be up to the teacher.

This site shows some of ways an ebook could be used in the class.

http://drscavanaugh.org/ebooks/

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Benefits to using an ebook

   All of these heavy books will fit nicely on your ebook! My back feels better already! 

1. Connecting the students with the technology of today is as vital to learning as the content itself.

     Reason being, students will need the technological skills to survive in the real world.

2. Being able to download class content as a group will open up many learning opportunities.  For example, the class could download a copy of a news paper article then read and analyse it as a group.  This will allow a greater access to the current events happening around the world.

3. ebooks are more fun and pack a lot into a tiny space.  Moving graphics, links to other pages and a new and exciting media in the palm of your hand! 

4.  Variety of books to choose from.  Students will be able to select from a variety of books and load them to their ebook from the palm of their hand.

5. It's portable!  Convenient to read from the comfort of your car, couch, lawn chair and even at the beach.

This is a list of 30 reasons ebooks are superior to regular books! Wow!

http://epublishersweekly.blogspot.com/2008/02/30-benefits-of-ebooks.html

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A few problems with eBooks in the class

1. They are too expensive. 

     It seems a long way off to have a classroom set of ebooks in the class due to their expensive nature. In addition to the initial purchase expense there is upkeep and replacement parts.  Single ebooks run from $300 and above.  Purchasing one for every student is unamaginable.

2. Technology issues.

     Batteries running out, software issues, dropped downloads, and a challenging learning curve for some could keep ebooks from ever getting into the classroom on a large scale.   

3. Technology changes

     It seems like the minute you get a new technology learned and in place in the classroom something new, different and better comes out. 

4. Fragile  

     It's true, a book can survive a fall off a desk or a journey in a backpack a lot better than a fragile ebook can.

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Links

A link to a few more problems with ebooks.

 http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/dec00/stork2.htm

A short article about a college that supplies its students with laptops and ipads. 

http://www.geek.com/articles/mobile/only-in-america-students-get-free-ipads-20100331/

Amazon Kindle

 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015T963C/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=3849738111&ref=pd_sl_93qxhnzinw_e 

Barnes & Noble Nook

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nook/

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References

Cavanaugh, T. (2010, May 5). Ebooks and education. Retrieved from http://drscavanaugh.org/ebooks/

E-book. (2010, May 5). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-book

Ochoa, S. (2000,Sept). The pros and cons of e-books: A primer for understanding the latest in publishing trends. http://archives.cnn.com/2000/books/news/09/25/ebook.primer/

Papanek, P. (2000). Standards and technologies. Writers Write, Retrieved from http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/dec00/stork2.htm