A theoretical discussion for e-text communication in learning

With the recent development of internet and mobile technology, a new kind of e-text communication is emerging. From messenger chatting, mobile texting, to social networking through Twitter or Facebook, e-text communication is becoming a main communication channel, especially for the younger generation. However, there has not been sufficient investigation into how this new kind of e-text communication can be applied in interactive learning environments, and which attributes of communicative e-text might influence learning. This paper, therefore, integrates a theoretical framework for understanding the essentials of e-text communication and explores the implications for its appropriate application in learning practice. After reviewing the historical background of orality and literacy as the basis of communication, this paper presents the core attributes of e-text communication. Finally, a theoretical framework for evolving e-text communication is elaborated with learning implications.     

To Google or Not to Google,That Is the Question: Supplementing Google Book Search to Make It More Useful for Scholarship

ABSTRACT

This article looks at two different projects, the Google Book Search project and the Text Creation Partnership, both linked to the University of Michigan Library. Though on the surface they are very different, the Text Creation Partnership, a model of cooperation between scholars, librarians, and publishers, may have some useful lessons for how to make Google Book Search more useful for academic research, particularly in full-text searching.