One of the ways I (an old academic) think about technology is as a tool for implementing great ideas that have been around for some time but would be impractical without the advantages offered by the new tool. If I have a way to identify new opportunities (which are not really new), this is it. If old folks are credited for wisdom, this how I think it works.
I am a fan of digital content (ebooks and online content) because the format allows manipulation and not just consumption. While I do argue that it is personal cognitive behavior that makes any learning experience productive (minds on rather than hands on), the integration of tools and tasks with content is about the best we can do to encourage such productive personal behavior in others.
I refer you to a recent blog post explaining the highlighting/annotation potential of Newsela as an example. This is a commercial example of the type of idea I have been exploring and you may have tried without considering the learning benefits. For example, you may highlight and annotate what you read in Kindle books. Now, add a social component to such activities and you may really have something. A discussion (teacher or author led or not) can spring up as learners react to the content they encounter. Challenge the author, ask a question, add an example – use the opportunity provided by the technology to make an encounter with ideas more active.
