The Chronicle of Higher Education posted an interesting article yesterday discussing the benefit and logic of digital textbooks. It presents the possibility to read identical material simultaneously rather than purchasing separate expensive copies of the very same thing. We are interested in your comments!
Digital Textbooks Call for New Business Models
by David Wiley
July 8, 2009In the 1997 film adaptation of Carl Sagan’s Contact, S.R. Hadden teaches Ellie Arroway “the first rule of government spending: Why have one when you can have two for twice the price?”
When it comes to curriculum materials like textbooks, practice exercises, instructional videos, and online simulations, our universities ask students to pay for them again and again, year after year.
This made sense in the days before the advent of the Internet, when students had to compete for access to educational materials. In those days, if John was using the graphing calculator, Jen had to wait her turn; if Mary was using the physics textbook, Mark had to wait his turn. Students needed to purchase calculators and textbooks of their very own if they each wanted to have ready access to these resources.
Read the rest of the story on the Chronicle’s Wired Campus blog
Visitors are welcome to contribute feedback. Please be aware that comments are moderated and any post that goes against our terms of service is subject to removal.
Content © Office of Information Technology Blog
Powered by WordPress
Log in
31 queries.
1.683 seconds.
