10 online textbooks ready for use in California classrooms

Painting online textbooks as a boon to student achievement and school district coffers, state Education Secretary Glen Thomas announced today that 10 free digital high school math and science textbooks are ready to be used in California classrooms.

The likelihood of students tapping them when schools open in a couple of weeks is slim, because of school districts’ textbook-adoption policies and teacher training needs, but Thomas said the move marks the first step in something that will revolutionize education in California.

“This is a groundbreaking initiative,” he told more than 100 representatives of schools, technology companies and others gathered at the Orange County Department of Education. “We think that technology is one of the ways to reform and improve education.”

Educators said they look forward to online content playing a greater role in the classroom but have lingering concerns. Though the online textbooks are free, they question how cash-strapped districts will pay for the infrastructure required – more computers, school-wide wireless Internet access, teacher training programs -- and ensure equal access to students from varying socioeconomic backgrounds.

“I think it’s good we’re talking about it,” said Richard M. Rodriguez, director of information systems for the Vista Unified School District. “At the end of the day, if you want to have a wider plan, you have to know this – who pays for that? ... That’s still not really clear yet.”

--Seema Mehta

Comments

[Enkidu]

Why didn't you link to the books so we can all take a look?

[Carmen Wisdom]

I love technology when it works, but it's so expensive, time-consuming, and space-consuming. With 40 kids crammed in my classroom, I don't have space for computers. Right now one textbook in the bitty bookrack under each desk is cheaper and more reliable. It doesn't break, doesn't get stolen, and requires a lot less classroom management energy--I don't have to keep an eye on 40 screens at once to make sure the kids are on task. A book's technology doesn't become obsolete in 5 years, either (granted, I teach literature).

Being a tree-hugger, I look forward to the time when one piece of technology can replace a stack of books, when a kid doesn't have to haul 30 lbs back and forth to school every day. I appreciate Rodriguez' candid acknowledgement that flinging these e-books to schools doesn't solve the problem--the money and infrastructure to access them just doesn't exist in schools today.

[Richard Ivey]

How about putting a small tax on e-mails to pay for kids' access to computer textbooks? At the same time tons of spammers will be forced to pay their share of taxes, for once!

[Optimistic Dude]

At the college level, electronic textbooks are helping control the cost of higher education. Publishing companies are getting with it and answering the need for institutions of higher education to remain accessible to all. http://www.newsy.com/videos/the_evolution_of_textbooks

[Robert Baker]

What are the 10 free digital high school math and science textbooks that are ready to be used in California classrooms? Where do we find them?

[Steve]

The online textbooks aren't really "free", the service is just a way for the publishers to get the districts to purchase their new books. Students will not read a textbook on line other than to quickly reference a page or two. They are not going to sit there an read several pages of new material.
Many of the online sites don't work very well anyway. It's all just a marketing gimic. My district has had access for two years to a publisher (MH) and their site is useless.

[Lilly Adams]

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