As a blogger, I enjoy reading the comments we received from our followers. It is a great way to stay in touch with people across the country and exchange thoughts and ideas. One of the interesting trends I have noticed in our comment section is how students use our blog to attempt to contact authors we feature in our spotlights or book reviews to help them write book reports.
Here is a sampling of some of the comments we have received in regards to the book Slob by Ellen Potter:
- Hey thanks for writing this great book! I’m 13 year old boy and I just now finished the book and I was looking for somewhere I could leave a comment. Loved the ending, weird twist. Great book overall, any idea what the theme would be?
- Whats the resolution to this book?
- hey ellen wat is the theme and symbolism of this book
I remember clearly when both of my sons had to do book reports for school and we struggled to help them figure out the theme or symbolism for their book. We certainly didn’t have email to contact the author or access to blogs to read reviews of the book. This new availability is contributing to what I call “The changing landscape of publishing.”
This new access also gives people the opportunity for information exchanges. Here is a little exchange we had in the comment section for the book Trash by Andy Mulligan:
- what is the mood?
- i know the mood will u tell me the theam if u know it and i will tell you the theam
So here is my question for you, do you think the access to technology helps or hurt a students learning? I’d love to hear what you have to say.
Suzanne Santillan
Writing on the Sidewalk
If by technology you mean the computer and internet, I believe technology is a double -dged sword. It can cut through the tedious work of retyping whole drafts and physically going to places where research materials are shelved. It opens time for the creative pursuits of writing. It can also be a crutch and time-suck.
But consider the uses of books– exposure to life-changing ideas and information or a wedge for uneven table legs.
It all boils down to intentions of the user.
Thanks Barb,
You bring up some excellent points and I fully agree with you that it all boils down to the intentions of the user.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts,
Sue
Wow – I guess I naively didn’t know that this was as pervasive as it seems. As a former classroom teacher (5th grade) and as a mom, I wouldn’t condone asking an author for the ANSWERS to a question. If anything, I’d encourage students/my daughter to write fan mail.
Overall, though, I think access to technology has helped students. I recall the hours spent in libraries, searching for books (and the key ones often being checked out or unavailable) – and while books are a great research tool, sometimes having access to info at the fingertips of a computer/internet user saves time and allows more widespread access to information (and people). That being said, there’s some misinformation out there, too.
Thanks Deb,
I too remember the days of looking for a book at the library only to find it already checked out. While I am grateful that we now have easier access to this information, I worry about how students will handle it.
I love your suggestion to write a fan letter.
Sue