Should Your Public School System Switch to Online Textbooks?
While the practice of using online textbooks has been popular on some college campuses for a few years, is it a good idea for the high school or middle school your children attend?
The Washington Post reports that Fairfax County public schools will implement a pilot program using online textbooks at a dozen middle schools and high schools for the 2010-2011 academic year. The Northern Virginia school system - one of the largest on the East Coast - has yet to designate the specific schools participating but has targeted social studies classes for the pilot.
Students in these classes will access their textbooks via netbooks, which are smaller and lighter than laptops. Teachers will also use netbooks to access professional resources. What isn't clear is whether the netbooks will travel home with a student each day for homework assignments and studying for tests or if the student will need to access the online texts using a family computer. The Fairfax County system estimates that around 88 percent of county households have access to the Internet. Nearby Frederick and Arlington counties have been reported to also be moving to online textbooks.
Advantages of Online Textbooks
When school districts investigate replacing a textbook, one of the first considerations is cost. According to Scholastic, so-called paper textbooks are expensive. Even elementary school textbooks cost more than $100 each purchased in bulk. As a result, the 4 largest textbook publishers take in more than $4 billion a year, Scholastic reports. Most school districts interested in a digital switch anticipate it will generate considerable savings over time.
A second advantage to netbooks is relative durability. Many standard textbooks that have been physically damaged must be replaced even when the information in them isn't obsolete.
Any student whose shoulders look rounded while carrying a backpack will probably complain about the weight of some textbooks. Use of a netbook to access online textbooks would lighten the physical load considerably.
Disadvantages of Online Textbooks
Critics of the idea of using online textbooks are quick to point out that any projected cost reduction is just a guesstimate. Fairfax County will incur no additional cost to participate in its pilot program. The school district normally orders new print texts at the seven-year mark. While officials believe a full-scale switch would probably save the district money, they have no cost estimate for an online textbook program.
Another concern is whether using online textbooks might have a negative impact on any students with learning disabilities. Parents as well as educators are also worried about students who use online texts in the classroom, need to finish homework or prepare for tests after school, and have no Internet access at home.
Just as some colleges have banned laptops from classrooms as distractions, some teachers foresee a similar problem with netbooks. A student representative on the Fairfax County school board remarked that high schoolers have already found a way bypass blocking designed to limit their access to social networking sites like Facebook.
The Forecast
Scholastic concludes that while a move to online textbooks is probably inevitable for most students, it will be gradual. It's unlikely that your children will face a specific date when instruction goes completely digital. Experts believe that for a while, at least, it will most likely utilize a mixed bag of print and digital media.
Sources:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/04/AR2010080402849.html
Published by Vonda J. Sines
Vonda J. Sines has been a writer and an editor her entire adult life. She left a conventional 8-to-5 career to pursue her passion of writing from dawn to dusk. She has worked as a horse, dog and cat rescue... View profile
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10 Comments
Post a CommentI must admit I don't read large portions of text on a computer. There is just something about it that gets on my nerves. If that's the case with me, it might well be with others. It could negatively impact some students. So I would think it would be wise to provide the option to go one way or t'other.
This will be part of the school system in one way or another. When you can earn a simple degree through an online website, some of the public schools need to get it in place.
I like the idea, although sometimes it's nice to read from a book rather than from the computer. The problem of theft and/or a computer not working could affect schoolwork, so this needs to be considered. Since the publishers will not be getting revenue from the printing of books, they would probably have to sell the digital copies. The nice thing is that nobody has to lug heavy books around, or worry about them becoming out of date.
Maybe they should all just own an iPad. I don't own one (yet), but it seems to be relatively easy to carry, and if students could put their assignments online as well as read text books online, the only they they would have to be responsible for is that iPad. No excuses for losing assignments, unless dogs like the taste of iPads ;
Then you have computer costs and at the high school where I work many teachers print out pages and pages for study guides if not using a textbook. Although netbooks make some things like updating easier, I prefer old fashioned books. My son had a couple college courses not require books just a relatively cheap computer program, I liked that! But most college kids already have a laptop.
I think it is an excellent idea. Easier to update online textbooks with a savings right there.
Sounds like a great idea... I wonder if school districts have thought of using devices like Kindle as textbook readers. That could reduce textbook expenses even more!
I think it is a great idea! The Internet is the school of today and tomorrow. Everything is updated, whereas textbooks might have old information. I think its a great idea.
The Internet is so prevalent, I can't think of anyone I know who doesn't have access to the Internet. I can see where this might be a good thing. It might take some getting used to.
Times are changing.