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Not Impressed" was my colleague's 1st comment after browsing this new multimedia item, Pillars of the Earth. I have to agree with her on this assessment. The first 47 pages I read, had one short video, and no pictures or audio clips. I guess we were expecting fireworks. We planned on watching the 1st episode of the mini-series Friday at home, [July 23rd] but the pay-per view put a halt to that at $14.99 for each Friday showing. Although, Starz reports ?The Pillars of the Earth Draws 690,000 For Premiere Between Starz & Encore." http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/07/26/starz-the-pillars-of-the-earth-draws-690000-for-premiere-between-starz-encore/58223 The final episode is this Friday, Aug. 27. Apple.com "Costumer Ratings" and "Reviews" rates this iPad app for Pillars of the Earth at 2 stars. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-pillars-earth-for-ipad/id382298124?mt=8

This is quite a marketing tool actually, matching the iPad app [$12.99] and the pay-per-view mini-series for 8 weeks. The interactive book came out 4 days before the mini-series. We'll see more of this in the months and years ahead for sure. What we really want to see is how this "model" moves towards an excellent production of "interactive textbooks" for students in the near future. Also 1.6GB is a large program to load and this app is supposed to be updated each week at another 1.6GB. We have not updated our app because of the space this program requires. [Our iPads are the 16GB models.]

This 1st version of an interactive book reminds me one of the 1st "LaserDisc technology" programs using Pioneer CLD-V2400 LaserDisc players. These units interacted with the PC software for social studies middle school classrooms in the 90's and replaced hard copy textbooks, some of you might remember. It looks slick, but got boring real quick. Even the teachers were perplexed and wanted to return to their old textbooks. I do understand the science and math programs at the time were much more appealing. We hope the 1st generation of student textbooks has a little more "pop" for the money.

In 1995 the LaserDisc technology was projected positively by Palm Beach County School District in Florida, to "enhance classroom instruction with full-motion audio, true-to-life images, easy operation and adaptability to any curriculum and increase technology-based education capabilities at every grade level". http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1995_Sept_13/ai_17392943/

We can only hope that the long awaited interactive textbooks for iPad are keeping up with the technology of the 21st century in education.

Interview with Markus Zusak, author of The Book Thief

Mark Zusak discusses The Book Thief.

Read Together Palm Beach County

2010 Read Together book announced
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Copies of The Book Thief will be widely available in bookstores and libraries throughout the county. Read Together Palm Beach County runs from March 26 to April 30th.
Guide for Readers, Educators, and Book Discussion Leaders (pdf)
Click here to read the review
Read the announcement on pbpulse.com
Look for Palm Beach State College calendar soon.

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