KOBO



Alexandra Mills

Support and Frequently asked questions: http://getsatisfaction.com/shortcovers

I was unable to find any video or tutorial about this site, however the website is very user friendly and goes through how to use the application in an easy to follow, step-by-step method.

I decided to learn more about this tool when I was fed up with students "forgetting" their novels in their lockers overnight and as a result, not completing the assigned reading. When I first logged onto the site, I knew KOBO could potentially help my students as well as myself. The site offers ebooks, or books in the digital form, that can be read through one's computer or smartphone. I immediately looked up the titles of the books that we read in our 7th grade Language Arts class, and all but one was there. The book we are currently reading, Tom Sawyer, is on the list and is free. This way, students can create a user name and password and either read the book online, or they can download the application to their iPhone or other smartphone. This way, students will have access to the novel and can choose how they read each their nightly homework. In addition, users can leave comments on specific pages and share or email any section of the book.

Educational Objective: Students in my 7th Grade Language Arts class will use www.kobo.com to access our current novel and post comments throughout the reading. Students in my 7th Grade Language Arts class will be able to identify and highlight examples of irony and characterization in the text while the novel is projected from www.kobo.com on to the Smartboard.

Lesson Plan:

As we being our next novel, Tom Sawyer, students will have to the end of the week to create a KOBO account and add the novel to their KOBO Library. Students will be placed into teams of four, and have the option to read the novel through the medium of their choice. They may read the paperback, online version or they may use the application to read it on their smartphone or iPod touch. After each chapter, students will need to respond to the discussion question posted by me and each group must respond using the "create a new comment" link. Even if the students wish to read the paperback, they must still log in and post a comment. The next day, we will review the chapter and view each groups' discussion post.

In addition to this nightly activity, groups will be assigned a chapter to review with the class. As the chapter is being projected on the Smartboard, students will highlight key points of the reading, paying specific attention to irong and characterization. Having the chapters projected is a wonderful way to point out certain parts of the book and makes notes, without marking the book. Each group will be assessed through their responses to nightly posts and their Smartboard discussion

I really think students will be receptive to reading the novel in such a alternative way. I am excited to begin the novel and see how using ebooks compares to using a paperback book. I really think they will find this method new and exciting! Not to mention, they will have to come up with more creative excuses for not completing their reading assignment:)