I’ve been following the digital textbook project in California for a while now. Last May, the state started offering free open source digital textbooks in an attempt to save money. In addition, these resources can be updated regularly and are easier to access. As of May, 16 digital textbooks were available as PDF files for high school-level math and science classes. The books were approved by the state and align with all state standards.

Teachers can print out the materials for students or display them on overhead projectors or smartboards. Students with laptops can access the data, and even some of them can utilize their cell phone/mobile device to access the PDF files, something beneficial for those low income students without laptops or even desktops at home.

With hardcover textbooks, California typically refreshes their books every 6 years. With the PDF files, they will be updated every two years. Even better, some sites have materials that are created and reviewed by educators and shared under a Creative Commons License, meaning that they can be updated much quicker by teachers for free.

Having this system not only reduces the school’s cost, but it enables teachers to use the best and most current information throughout the school year. The ability for teachers to customize material into small documents called Flexbooks certainly transforms the way students receive information.

With devices such as the Kindle and upcoming iPad, these digital textbooks can extend their reach even further, with searchable text, embedded videos, audio files, quizzes, built-in dictionary/thesaurus, etc. Investing in these devices, or even the more inexpensive netbooks, coupled with free open source books, can prove to be far less expensive than traditional textbooks.

The question remains: Will the textbook juggernauts that live off the school system take this lying down, or will they innovate to keep up? While they may not be able to provide free textbooks, offering subsidized devices with their books built-in would be a great way to keep them relevant in this ever changing world.

Your thoughts are appreciated.