K-12 debate: 'Can the Kindle ignite interest in reading?'

When I went to the eye doctor today, he asked what kind of smartphone is best for e-reading. Good sign—perhaps a side effect of Kindle-mania?

Meanwhile the inevitable question is coming up in K-12 circles: Can the Kindle help schools hook kids on reading? A credible answer comes from Christopher Dawson—a teacher-IT administrator in Massachusetts—as quoted in eSchool News, which also picked up other opinions.

While Dawson would buy a Kindle himself if he could afford it, he questions the current practicality of the Kindle for K-12—because of the price, no color, and the lack of sufficient textbook content. In his blog, Dawson observes: “Despite free access to Wikipedia (a resource that, while incredible in its own right, must be taken with a grain of salt), cheap dictionary downloads, and text-based web connectivity (via free EVDO wireless), $400 can also buy you an Asus Eee, getting you a full-blown computer (that could certainly double as an e-book reader as more content comes online). Even the XO can be had for $400 [temporarily], features a black-and-white e-reader mode, and scores you a $200 tax deduction for the extra XO landing in a developing country.”

Related: Amazon Kindle for people with disabilities, in Peter Abraham’s blog.

Detail: Well, at least Wikipedia was right for me on the issue of the day, whether I’m going blind. The eye doctor says I have PVD, a minor and common condition that needs to be watched but is something I can live with.