Open Source Textbooks?
Mel Wade
Utah schools increasingly are replacing traditional textbooks with electronic resources. Two digital math textbooks already have been released by the state's education department and work is underway to develop additional free, open-source materials in science, math and language arts. Officials say schools can use money saved on textbooks to purchase more digital devices for students.
- If you really want to do something, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse. – Jim Rohn
Elaine Pugh
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:12:36 -0700
Subject: [EdForum] Open Source Textbooks?
From: m...@melwade.com
To: Adventis...@googlegroups.com; techn...@lists.nadeducation.org
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Brian D Reed
I have been hearing about programs like this for a long time now. Where I have heard a lot of is public schools in California. Maybe Mr. Richard Carey can shed some light on this. Last I heard he was still down in the Southern California area, but if it is the same Mr. Carey that was my principal back in (ah-hem ... The Year of Our Lord Nineteen Hundred and Oh My That's a Long Time Ago) then he would know. (LOL) He was the one that got me started in computers and technology back in the day.
I know my son's high school here in Aurora, Colorado has the electronic library system. 90% of their books are all digital and accessed through the school's network.
With the increase, what little there is thus far, in Tablet PC sales as of late, and the predictions coming from Gartner (blah, blah, spit, spit) and other technology companies, I can't see how electronic textbooks are inevitable at this point. From the one side of the argument, pointed out by Mr. Wade, schools can save quite a bit of money by acquiring digital textbooks instead of printed/hard copy. I have had that same argument for years. Especially when I was teaching at the local Community College. I don't anymore because they have gone COMPLETELY online courses only in their computer sciences division. Other divisions within the community college system here in Colorado are following suit very quickly. Physical Sciences is one I know is now almost completely online courses as well. Math and Language Arts are not far behind.
It is unfortunate for students that they are still required to go to the college bookstore and purchase textbooks, which we all know are WAY over-priced anyway. That is one reason why I struggled a bit with getting my three Master's degrees from the University of Phoenix. Each course had a "Resource Fee" attached to it which included getting the digital copies of the textbooks, but $110/course got expensive. Cheap by comparison to some of the Community College classes that required $250+ in textbooks but still. Ever try to open one of your digital textbooks after you have completed your program? It don't work.
So there are arguments both for and against digital textbooks, from what I have seen (and common sense tells us). Like I said previously, I don't see how it is inevitable, especially with the younger generation growing up with technology while they are still literally in the womb. As I stated at the beginning, I didn't get into computers and technology until Mr. Richard Carey was my 10th Grade Principal at Redding SDA School (Redding, California). He brought in the Commodore 64 system to the school and as a result, I got started in what has turned out to be a lifetime career in technology. (LOL) Which is not a bad thing. That, however, was back in the 1984/1985 school year. Look at how far we have come since the Apple IIe/Commodore 64 days. Kids now a days have it "easy" by comparison. I can guarantee you that probably 98% of the kids in college right now haven't a clue what the old library catalog system is all about. Going to the various drawers and looking at index cards to get the information of where the book is stored, what it is about, etc. etc .etc. That's at the college level. Imagine what it is like for say kids as young as Kindergarten. Mom & Dad probably have an iPad or an Android tablet that have the various learning games installed on it. Or they at least have a computer with all the learning games on it. Heck, that's how my son grew up. At age 4 he knew how to put a CD into his computer and install the game or start the game. At age 4. He's now 16 1/2 years old and luckily, for now, I am still ahead of him in computer/technology knowledge, but he is gaining ground fast. He is in the "Arts & Communications" program in high school which is teaching him how to do computer aided design for animation; video game design/development; etc. etc. etc. So he is catching up to me quickly.
I have to wonder if the Adventist schools are going to be able to afford to upgrade to all the required technology for digital textbooks? I haven't been involved with the Adventist schools here in Colorado for a few years now, but I know the enrollment in each school was suffering severely and the cost of tuition kept going up and up and up just to try and help makes ends meet. I don't know how they could afford to make the switch to all digital, honestly. What about the rest of the country? I know Mr. Wade has spoken of schools down in the Georgia/Tennessee area that seem to be up to date technology wise, but what about the rest of the schools across the nation? Scary thought. :-( I know in Colorado the schools, at least a few years ago when I was working in them, were nowhere near close to being on par with technology. Not even close.
Sorry. I seem to be rambling here. The point to my response is ... I don't see how it can be prevented. With all the changes going on in technology, especially with everyone wanting to push "Cloud Technology" now ... i.e. Microsoft Office 365; Google Docs; etc. Pretty soon there are not going to be any "Installation CDs/DVDs" anymore. It's going to be, "Go to the App/Google Play Store and download the app." Think about it. It's happening right now. The joke used to be, "There's an app for that." Well, it is no longer a joke in my opinion. There is LITERALLY an app for just about EVERYTHING these days. What's the world going to be like in five years or ten years from now?
Thanks for reading. Sorry to be so long-winded but I get to talking about technology and I will go all week without a break. Please remember, however, to tip your waitress. ;-)D (LOL)
Take care all.
From: adventis...@googlegroups.com [mailto:adventis...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Mel Wade
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 10:13 AM
To: Adventis...@googlegroups.com; techn...@lists.nadeducation.org
Subject: [EdForum] Open Source Textbooks?
Will school need to buy textbooks in the future? What do you think?
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