Recently, I have been working with some senior undergrads at Minnesota on educational projects. These students obtain degrees in things like mathematics, chemistry, or political science and enter an M.S. program that fulfills the requirements for teaching in Minnesota.
Two years ago, when one of the students purchased a Netbook, I was very impressed. A Netbook is a less expensive version of a notebook that has the horsepower for most of the things a college student needs to do with a computer, but Netbooks are already obsolete. I cynically believe this is because there is not enough money to be made from them. And for some reason people seem willing to accept technology degradation if an item is small and cute.
There have been some encouraging recent developments, such as Smashwords and the new Amazon policy on pamphlets. Hopefully textbooks will soon start to become widely available through these mechanisms for distribution as e-books. Which leads to the problem at hand, the Kindle or the iPad? These seem to be the current best candidates for the educational e-book reader.
The iPad is Apple’s latest toy. Everyone raves about it, from docs to profs, but I’m not buying. The iPad is expensive due to extraneous functionality for the purpose of reading an e-book. Then the new Kindle arrived. As one commenter said of the viral Eva von Dassow video: “Be still my beating heart…”
Currently it is relatively cheap. I’ll bet it goes to $99. Free Internet connectivity for download of stuff from Amazon, as well as millions of public domain books, an ability to read pdf’s, and a way to get your own stuff, e.g., from Word, into Kindle-readable format. Wonderful specs for reading in full daylight and changing font size.
I almost bit, but discovered one fatal flaw. The device is based on a technology that will not do color—a deal breaker, because color is essential for educational material. Whether it is organic chemistry or art-history text (field of The Boss), color is necessary. The iPad does color, but I’ve already explained why that is not an option.
But The Boss had already agreed to a Kindle/iPad. What to do? I have been very curious about the effect of using something other than a computer for writing. Many good writers work directly on a computer. But some of us learned doing it the old fashioned way. I have always had a hard time sitting in front of a computer screen and writing. What about a typewriter?
Don DeLillo still uses a typewriter as does Philip Roth. A whole subculture of typewriter aficionados has embraced the inked spool. One of the enablers of this retro movement is Cambridge Typewriters in Arlington, Mass. The Boss and I went over to check out the place.
Ah, Nirvana. I wanted an Olympia portable. They are very well made and heavy enough not to jump around. My preference was classic green. Many very attractive machines were in stock: green, brown, maroon and an interesting two-tone. The Boss instantly seized on that one. I have never run across anything like it in my Internet searches. Maroon top and gray bottom with chrome return and trim. There is one small chip on the front, patina as The Boss would say. Deal done. This machine is now my first choice for original drafts.
We need e-book readers that can handle color and that are reasonably priced. Make it so, Amazon, Apple, or anyone else. I’ll be working away on material for your reader, doing first drafts on a typewriter.
Picture Credit: JA Neiswander
5 Responses to The iPad, the Kindle, or a Manual Typewriter?
taraw - June 2, 2011 at 7:16 pm
This is alarming because it is not entirely accurate:
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This is why some counselors here said they promptly tell students (especially those who worry about their readiness for college) that grade-point averages from community colleges won’t follow them to four-year institutions.
“We like to call it a clean slate,” Mr. Flagel said. “We say to them, ‘Look, it’s a safety net for you.’”
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Some four-year colleges do include coursework from other institutions in the cumulative GPA. Grades earned at community college may also come into play when applying for further studies, depending on the institution’s GPA calculation and review policy. In our review of potential graduate students, we make it very clear to applicants that the entire educational history will be taken into consideration, including any significant studies completed at community colleges. The phrase “clean slate” is very misleading because you can’t simply erase pieces of your educational history. Students should be aware that universities may follow their own policies in the area of GPA calculation, and sometimes that means including calculations from community college coursework.
lkaplan - June 3, 2011 at 11:02 am
Thank you for writting this article. I too, was a tranfser student who right out of high school went to a community college and received my A.A. degree. It was the best decision I made! I was too young for college and not ready for a big institution. When I was done with my AA in two years, I graduated and transfered to a four year institution. I felt like I was better prepared for college. Although it did take some getting used to a bigger institution.=) Now I have my Masters in College Student Affairs and I am ready to embark on my higher education career.
tbanksle - June 7, 2011 at 10:23 am
I am also concerned about the “grade-point averages from community colleges won’t follow them to four year institutions” and “clean slate” information especially as it relates to financial aid and the SAP policy which takes into account all collegiate work attempted when calculating ratios for eligibility.
I do agree that a stigma is attached to attending community colleges; however it will take greater coordination between community college admission staff and high school counselor to partner to present the “true” upside of attending community colleges which may start with cost and ease of transferability of coursework to partnering 4-year institutions.
surpassingreach - June 7, 2011 at 6:07 pm
I think the “clean slate” comment relates to a clean slate from their High School educational history. University admissions only consider CC transfer educational history, not high school educational history. I don’t think the author meant to say clean slate from CC to the university.
schmitzhaj - August 9, 2011 at 1:51 pm
Academic advising plays a very important role for transfer students. It is vital that community college advisors and university advisors collaborate on articulation agreements so there is a clear plan and understanding about which credits will transfer between institutions. This will save students time, money, and frustration.