All entries for Saturday 09 October 2010

Tech review: Kindle reader application for iPhone and iPod Touch

Read 15 chapters of an academic publication on a device with a 3.5" 960x640 pixel screen?

Madness - surely?

Well I must be mad. I've just read a whole book, downloaded from Amazon, using the Kindle reader application on a new 4th generation iPod Touch. It took me under a week. I estimate about 6 hours of reading in total in lots of short bursts. Not only that, I also managed to add numerous annotations and highlights.

That hadn't been the plan. My intention was to read the book on my iMac and my MacBook AIR, using the iPod as a mobile alternative to use for reference and for filling occasional gaps in my schedule. That would have made the best of the Kindle business model and cloud computing pattern. This is how it works: you install the Kindle reader software on one or more devices (mobile or desktop), registered to the same Amazon account. Most people assume that a Kindle device (cost £100-£150) is required, but that's not the case. Amazon are interested in selling books, not hardware. So once you buy the book (online at the usual Amazon store, or using the system built into the reader software), you can download the book to any or all of your registered devices. The really clever bit is called WhisperSync. When you read the book, your current location, along with any notes and highlighting, are uploaded back to Amazon. When you access the book on a different registered device, it gets synchronised. Your notes and highlights are shared across computers and mobile readers, instantly.

I could add to my set up a dedicated Kindle reader device from Amazon, with it's high quality screen readable in bright sunshine, and its week-long battery recharge cycle. But I'm not sure it's necessary. And it might not actually be the best solution for me.

After a couple of chapters read on the iPod Touch, with it's high definition screen and touch screen controls (wipe to the right to flip the page), I was actually enjoying reading the book (on research methods). I have an eye injury, and find reading conventional books difficult for more than 30 minutes. Reading on the iPod is easier! The text is small, but it's very clear. I hold it closer to my eyes than a normal book. But there's no discomfort. Most interesting is the fact that I can read much faster on the iPod screen. Page sizes are variable. I set the number of lines per page to about 20 (in portrait alignment, it reduces if i turn the device to landscape). That number of lines seems to help me to read faster, but still take everything in.

One issue remains - Kindle has no concept of page numbers, so I have to work out how to create citations to lines in the Kindle book. Any ideas?

Robert O'Toole : 09 Oct 2010 20:50 |  Tags: Technology |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Researching Learning in Higher Education by Glynis Cousin

Not necessarily the most thrilling of topics, made fascinating by an author with an engaging style and a depth of personal experience. I read this as background for my PhD research, but have found it to be useful in many unexpected ways. Cousin adopts a pragmatic and relaxed attitude to structure and methodological discipline, much more so than many lesser researchers. Her advice could be summed up as: be creative, think about what you are trying to achieve, tailor methods to match your aims and your context, and most importantly be honest and ethically minded. There's a chapter on ethics, as well as detailled chapters on each methodology - with enough detail to act as a guide book for anyone undertaking research using the methods.

The section on appreciative inquiry (AI) is especially good - I hadn't come across this before, but am instantly attracted to its positive, creative, inclusive and open minded ethos. Cousin qoutes Sloterdijk, a link that I am keen to pursue (and its connection to Latour and the philosophy of design). AI would seem to fit nicely with Design Thinking, combining a variety of modes of activity (discovery, dreaming, designing, destiny) iteratively and reflectively - rather like Design Thinking's 3 spaces (inspiration, ideation and implementation). The aim being appreciate and amplify good practice. AI also emphasises inclusiveness and participation in the design process. I think I am already doing AI as the core method for my PhD research (mixed pragmatically with lots of other approaches).

There's also a really good section on Meyer and Land's "threshold concept" approach, with detailed examples and suggested instructions for how to go about a study (as with the other methods covered).

The chapter on visual methods is also quite inspirational, although it may soon need updating as new technologies become available - Cousin talks about "videotaping"! Old tech already.

Perhaps the most significant effect that this book will have is in highlighting HE research to be full of imagination and creative thinking.

Read this if you teach or support HE teaching, whether you are undertaking a research project or just want to improve your own or your institution's effectiveness.

Robert O'Toole : 09 Oct 2010 19:44 |  Tags: Book Inspiration Research Methods Review |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem