Posts
http://www.cagle.com/2012/11/book-vs-e-book-reader/#.UV-Nw6sjo08
What educational policy issue is this political cartoon about?
National Education Technology Plan and the push for using emerging technologies to foster 21st century learning. (Traditional books vs. e-books)
What is the purpose of the cartoon (why did the artist create it?)
I feel as if the purpose of this cartoon is to emphasize the sentimental feeling many people will always have toward reading a traditional book. The fact that the book is face down on the ground saying, "are you able to do the splits?" seems to show that it is trying everything it can to be better than the e-book because it is obvious eBooks are a growing trend with all they have to offer.
What techniques did the artist use to draw your attention (refer to the cartoon analysis guide from our classroom activity)?
The book is in color, seems to be quite a bit larger than the e-book, and has a pretty big caption above it, which draws your attention to it. The word, nostalgia, on the book relates to a sentimentality for the past. The fact that the iPad is sitting upright and an e-book is shown draws your attention to the fact that the traditional book has been placed face down and is a thing of the past.
What is the opinion of the artist?
From my point of view, the artist seems to have that sentimental feeling toward traditional books or feels as if many people still do. However, the artist seems to realize that no matter how hard the book tries to show off, it is becoming part of the past as e-books make their way into the classrooms.
According to the artist, who benefits and who is negatively impacted by this policy?
This artist seems to agree that e-books are benefitting In relation to the National Technology Plan and the push for e-learning. The use of traditional paper books in schools is being negatively impacted.
What opinions do others have on this issue?
According to a site Kara showed me in our PLC group a couple weeks ago, there are many pros and cons for both, e-books and paper books. According to pro-con.org...
In Nov. 2010, the US Department of Education released its National Education Technology Plan, a detailed blueprint on how schools can improve learning with technology. Among its recommendations is to leverage mobile devices ("the technology students already have") in the classroom. In his Jan. 2011 State of the Union address, President Obama said, "I want all students to be able to learn from digital textbooks." On Feb. 1, 2012, the US Department of Education and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in collaboration with several tech organizations, released a downloadable "Digital Textbook Playbook" to "encourage collaboration, accelerate the development of digital textbooks and improve the quality and penetration of digital learning in K-12 public education."
Therefore, our national government definitely seems to support progress. They seem to want to move away from the paper books of the past and encourage e-learning and the use of e-books
Did you find this cartoon persuasive? Why or why not?
From my understanding of this cartoon and the message I got from it, I did not find it to be persuasive. Yes, there will always be a nostalgia about paper books. We used them for so long and it is difficult for many people to imagine that something better could take its place. Regardless of the sentimental value of paper books, e-books and e-textbooks have so much more media and multisensory learning support to offer.
What do you think is omitted or missing from the cartoon?
I think it would be interesting if the cartoon included a response from the e-book.
What questions do you have about the issue that the cartoon does not answer?
If there had been a response from the e-book, the artist would have painted a clearer picture of his opinion on the topic. I feel as if the way he left it allows for a a few different interpretations.
Sources:
"Book vs e Book reader by Political Cartoonist Frederick Deligne." Cagle.com Political Cartoons. Web. 4 Apr. 2013. <http://www.cagle.com/2012/11/book-vs-e-book-reader/#.UV-Nw6sjo08>.
"Tablets vs. Textbooks." ProCon.org. Web. 4 Apr. 2013. <http://tablets-textbooks.procon.org/>.
