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.

I watched/listened to the Apple announcement yesterday of the iPad, it’s new tablet.  This device is supposed to supplant the Kindle, and be that third “missing” media device between a smartphone and a laptop/notebook.

Personally, as someone with a great smartphone, laptop, desktop, & Kindle, I don’t see the room for this in my lifestyle, and after all of the buzz, others will feel the same way.  I realize people don’t like devices that do one thing, but my Kindle does its job.  However, if I were in the market for an e-Reader/media device to have in another room, this MIGHT be something to look at; the feature list is impressive for the most part (but lacks a lot).

While I can’t see a need for this in my home (or frankly, the average consumer’s home), there may be a use in schools.  Their iBook store will not only contain novels, but textbooks as well.  Imagine having this one device that you take to class (or the teacher passes out to be used for that day) that has your textbooks, email, calendar, notetaking software (Evernote), word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation software.  Connected to the school’s wifi, the teacher could send notes and assignments in real time to you, correct your papers and send you the drafts to edit & send back, etc.

Oh wait. You CAN do this.  On a netbook/laptop!  Just get the textbook deals done and it’s a wrap.

One of the biggest setbacks on this device is that it does NOT have multi-tasking, meaning as a student, you couldn’t have multiple applications running at once.  This is a big letdown, as multi-tasking is important to students, in my opinion.

I don’t see this in K-8 just set.  At $499 (starting price; highest is $829), it may be out of reach for those schools (they have a hard enough time just getting 1-2 desktops for a whole classroom).  Plus, I’m not sure the appreciation level would be there for kids that young; perhaps 8th grade.  Likely a device for high school, and very possibly for college, especially if the school subsidized the cost.

Overall, it’s a very nice device.  I’m not an Apple fan by any stretch of the imagination, but it has to be admitted that this is gorgeous & a unique design.  Practical consumer use? Very questionable.  School use? If the right software and books were available, it MIGHT work, but there are some things to seriously consider.

What do you think?  Is this a device that schools could use, and would it be practical to do so?

Here’s a great post from Gizmodo about “8 Things That Suck About the iPad.”