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Key concerns about the sudden rush to dump textbooks for open source content

This transition will happen relatively quickly given the current cost of textbooks and the low cost of tablets. Fortunately, I think we will find that the digital textbooks and other features on the tablets will be far more engaging and effective teaching tools than the traditional textbook. The ability of the digital text to read aloud (in several languages) and provide visual support including high def color diagrams, animation, and video, as well as create intuitive links to vocabulary and 'checking for understanding' will be a great support to students and teachers.

A point of view challenging the rapid transition to digital textbooks. 

These op-eds and blogs keep popping up, but I have yet to read one that is at all compelling. It was particularly entertaining when this author referenced how digital photography put Polaroid out of business. Hard to understand why one would use that reference when defending the textbook. The funny thing is that textbooks were never a fantastic learning tool to begin with. The real danger is that digital textbooks will not not make the dramatic improvements that they may be capable of when it comes to teaching the material.

California collage students to get free digital textbooks as early as next year.

Are digital textbooks the beginning of the end for the college bookstores? 39 percent students surveyed used digital reader. We may be reaching a tipping point here.

South Korea initiative for digital textbooks - good news?

Recommendation 1: Complete the Shift from Print-Centric Textbook Adoption Practices to Digital Resources within Five Years Recommendation 2: Develop a Vision and Roadmap for Completing the Shift 2a: Eliminate Unnecessary Regulations and Enact Supportive Policies 2b: Invest in Infrastructure and Devices to Support the Shift 2c: Ensure Effective Implementation of Digital Policies. Recommendation 3: Ensure a Vibrant Marketplace for Digital and Open Content

Digital Textbooks

Discusses some funding and infrastructure hurdles (e.g.broadband services) in rolling-out digital textbooks

For the first time, Amazon's digital books had outsold paper books. While many popular consumer books have successfully made the switch into the new format, textbooks are still widely read on paper. However, textbooks as e-books ought to be seen as a stepping stone to the future. And we need to design devices that are specifically made to support academic reading.

Arnie Duncan, Education Secretary, and Julius Genachowski, FCC Chairman, setting up an ambitious plan to get digital textbooks in schools within five years. This requires ccollaboration among the Government, business, and educators.

Interesting article about the cost components (not just device pricetags) of using digital textbooks. The article considers Africa, but the framework can apply anywhere.

"As professors mix and match book chapters, case studies, and journal articles, the site keeps track of how much royalties are going to cost. Once the book is made, students have the option of buying it digitally or paying an extra $10 (with an additional 3 cents per page if the book is more than one hundred pages) for the textbook"

"Apple said electronic high school textbooks from its initial publishing partners, including Pearson, McGraw-Hill and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, would cost $15 or less. That is much cheaper than print textbooks, some of which can cost over $100". woo hoo!

I can explain the business model to you if you'd like that shows how the $15 price point is feasible in what turns out to be an almost $40 million dollar textbook investment! Just let me know!

I would be definitely interested :-)

Interesting that as we push for digital textbooks and online access to more resources on one hand, that man people still prefer reading non-digital text and we are looking at coming full-circle with a digital means to deliver the content, but with an affordable, quick, and easy way to convert the material back to its original format. 

The latest report on digital textbooks

Via Instapundit: In Technology Review, Michael Fitzgerald reports on an innovate approach to make digital versions of expensive textbooks available to cost-conscious students.

Interesting  plan coming out of "Leading Education by Advancing Digital Commission" meeting last week.  

One example of using Ipads instead of math books. There is a brief mention of incorporating video, but the article does not go into detail about the format of the digital text books