The economy strikes again
For the past 18 months or so, I have been a big fan of a certain web 2.0 tool that allowed students to create online books that could be viewed interactively and shared by URL. In a big email push this past week, they revised their user agreement. I read it carefuly, but even my skeptical eye did not catch the fact that they had removed the capability to see the book interactively unless you are actually logged into that “personal” account. No longer can teachers have students create books and share them electronically with family and friends at no cost. No longer can teachers create interactive ways for students to understand new content. No longer can all the teachers to whom we have “plugged” this tool use it with their class
es in any functional way.
Some of the other changes related to content ownership are even more disturbing, but this one is the deal breaker right up front. If it is not free, TeachersFirst cannot review and recommend it. The sad thing is that I thought their business model MIGHT actually work: provide the tool for free, but ask parents and teachers to pay if they wanted a printed copy of the book. In an ordinary economy, it should have worked. Seeing your child’s (or grandchild’s) clever writing would be enough for parents to shell out the bucks. The school library or a teacher might select the very best books created by a class for actual printing and permanent display on school shelves. Even in an era where reading has become more and more electronic and less tactile, people can be overcome by the urge to make a moment in a child’s life “permanent.” It should have worked.
But the economy strikes again. So we will be removing mention of this once-amazing tool for scaffolded or open writing experiences from over 80 reviews on TeachersFirst. Instead of recommending that students create online books, we will recommend another content-authoring tool…until that one dies, too. Let’s hope the economy improves before it sucks all creativity out of learning. There are enough forces at work trying to do just that. Economics should not be one of them.
I was disappointed too and upset because my class was in the middle of their books when i got the email. I have not looked totally into these sites but http://www.bookemon.com/ and http://www.studentpublishing.com/ look promising.
Comment by Maureen Schoenberger — November 5, 2009 @ 10:51 pm
Thanks so much! I will definitely check into these. No two tools are alike, so it will be interesting to see what features each has. The risk of demise comes along with ANY new tool these days. It just hurts more when you have seen teachers get so excited about doing a technology-infused project with their students (perhaps for the very first time). Hope your class does well!
Comment by Candace Hackett Shively — November 6, 2009 @ 9:22 am
This must have been a sad experience for those students that were all happy about putting their work on display and got disappointed. I think this is a great way to integrate technology into a lesson in a way that is both fun and intriguing. When reading this post, I just kept thinking about those children that never get to experience these great activities with technology because of a lack of funds within the school system, or just in general. If there are no computers, or not enough money to buy certain software, then students do not get exposed to this kind of learning. As you mentioned, hopefully the economy doesn’t effect the creativity of learning, or the fun of it all for that matter.
Comment by Vanessa — December 11, 2009 @ 12:39 am
The real irony is that as prices for technology (ex. netbooks) have fallen to a very approachable level and free resources such as TeachersFirst and the amazing web 2.0 tools we review have spread the word about FREE and meaningful learning experiences that do NOT require special software, schools are forced to move backwards in their budgeting. Just as the fruit bends within reach, someone removes even the shortest ladder.
I am certain that “free” tools such as the one I wrote about here are caught in a similar squeeze, but how do you explain that to an eight year old who has worked hard?
Comment by Candace Hackett Shively — December 11, 2009 @ 9:11 am