From Textbooks to Other Digital Sources: Blending Print and Digital

 #Edchat  9-28-2010 – 18:00 CET 12 PM EST

This week’s #edchat touched on a topic very close to people’s hearts and the discussion was lively to say the least. There were tons of links shared and lots of new collaborations arranged! Taking on the task of ploughing through the archive to produce this week’s summary is Tracy Mercier (@tracymercier) who has done an amazing job! Thank you Tracy for sterling work! Find out more about Tracy from her bio at the end of the post.

With everything going virtual and making its way to the cloud, it’s inevitable for us to ask what will happen to textbooks.  But, more than that, what will happen to anything in print?  As we enter a more digital world, we consider the implications for educating children how to navigate their way.  During the chat today, a few points and/or concerns were resonating: cost, content, and process. 

As a few pointed out, the cost of electronic textbooks is not much different than those in print.  Most having only a $10 difference.  There is also the additional cost of  purchasing an  e-reader &/or laptop to access the digital textbook.  The issue of cost raised a few concerns about equity.  How can we ensure that those without access at home would be able to participate outside of school?

 The conversation revolving around content and process brought up some excellent points.  Do we have to use textbooks (print or digital)?  If we are going to go digital, how about pulling in other resources: video, Wikipedia, etc.  This brought in concerns about disseminating the same information to students vs. providing students with choice.  Choice in what to read or how to get the information: video, going to the source (asking the author).  Some also suggested blending the two.  Providing the students with an array of resources in print and online.  Yet, as many of us know, just because it’s out there on the web, does not mean that it’s credible.  What skills do we need to consider teaching our students in order for them to know when they are being fed false information?  And, how do we scaffold the skills, tech and literacy, so that our students are successful?  Training was also a concern.  Not only do we want our students to be successful with the tools, but it was clearly important that our colleagues be just as successful implementing them.

 Here is a selection of some of the comments:

With such a vibrant discussion, it’s almost impossible to do it justice in a summary, but I’ve picked out some of the comments that caught my eye.

 Parentella: @ShellTerrell Training is key. We have to equip our educator with the knowledge of ho to best use the tech b4 leaving them w/it 

UltimateTeacher: @ShellTerrell We have to empower teachers to take on digital books. Small goals are more realistic and manageable

tomwhitby: By switching to digital content that huge amount textbk $$$ could be diverted to tech tools and there would still be money left over.

 malcolmbellamy: education is about preparation for the future not rushing backwards to the past

 tucksoon: Textbooks will still exist unless education technology becomes air

 tomwhitby: Digital is more relevant and timely than Print.

 findingdulcinea: Educators must create the successors to textbooks; we’ve created a platform to help them, as have others http://bit.ly/91xCl7

 ShellTerrell: Most Ss have access to cell phones where they can carry the material around w/ them if we made the switch to dig tech

 aguteirreziT: Agree that ebook and book should coexist. Fond memories from childhood with books. Shame to eliminate completely.

 cybraryman1: We have to consider training for learning new technology & expecting learners to adapt to blended learning

 CrudBasher: Idea world -> Each students has their own customized digital txtbook, based on their learning style

 tkraz: Is there a resource for teachers who want to “construct” a free online version of their text? Let us get started that way.

 findingdulcinea: e-textbooks are not the answer; still have one voice, and no differentiated or individualized, student-directed instruction

 odysseyware: Don’t forget it’s not about us, but what students will do. It can never be digital or paper bcs every kid is different. So how?

 vickicobb: Where is it written that all kids have to read the same bk on a topic? Why cant they read diff bks and discuss??

michellek107: 1 problem w/ print textbooks is that many are used as “THE curriculum,” rather than to support curriculum.

SamGliksman: ebooks will succeed when they provide genuine interactive learning experience and aren’t just pdf of text-which most are now

SECottrell: Open-source resources that are motivating, up-to-date, and relevant are what turns the textbookless classroom into magic

 lhmiles2: Give me a vast supply of primary & secondary documents, and I will never touch another textbook again. Students love real content.

 min_d_j: digital text = flexible text. How about interactive PLEs that include text, images, video, simulations, interactive components?

 Mamacita: Good teachers turn textbooks into magic carpets, & poor teachers refuse to use magic at all. It would be the same for ebooks.

 cybraryman1: Our job as educators is to find the right method (book & internet) so every child can learn & reach his/her potential.

To follow the complete discussion see here  

 For the stats on #edchat participation see here  

 As ever, there were some great links shared:

ImagineLearning: Interesting article about schools doing away with regular textbooks and replace with e-readers http://bit.ly/dm6b3G  #edchat

markbrumley:  Here’s a school with an ebook library: http://tinyurl.com/3aac4rv  #edchat

ImagineLearning: e-readers cn provide students w/ a richer learning experience w/ audio, vid, & interactive graphics http://bit.ly/9aRLEv  #edchat

NextGenLC: Some of you may have already contributed, but there are great insights to be found in our Blended Learning forum http://ow.ly/2L8Tv  #edchat

briankotts:  E-books are only 6% of Printed Books Sales http://bit.ly/cjcfgx  #edchat #edtech

findingdulcinea:  Educators must create the successors to textbooks; we’ve created a platform to help them, as have others http://bit.ly/91xCl7 #edchat

vickicobb:  Nonfiction literature, bookds from the library, are what the best schools use: http://inkthinktank.com

vickicobb:  Excerpts from assessment tests come from our books. http://bit.ly/bAIL2F #edchat

txlibraryguy:  Check out Future of the Book for some possibilities http://www.futureofthebook.org/

vickicobb:  Meet the best nonfiction authors. See what they have to say about what is read in classrooms. http://bit.ly/b02i0o  #edchat

lisalearner:  study shows wikipedia just as accurate, but harder to read and understand than txtbks. http://bit.ly/b56cvP  #edchat

findingdulcinea:  Mayor Bloomberg has asked NYS to stop requiring textbooks: http://bit.ly/9vayTS  via @InnovativeEdu #edchat

vickicobb:  How ’bout talking to nonfiction authors? We can help you big time! http://bit.ly/d9ZPAT #edchat

eLearningGuild: Japan to pilot digital textbooks in classrooms http://bit.ly/cbYk0n #ebooks #ereaders +#dl10 session http://bit.ly/c33Naq #edchat

ImagineLearning:  Fascinating article on how web is dying. R apps a solution 2 letting Ss use power of internet but stay safe? http://bit.ly/bVq4v3  #edchat

vickicobb:  It’s the writing that makes written material memorable. here’s scientific proof: http://bit.ly/dtBJ6N

vickicobb:  Think of us nonfiction authors as playwrights. You can teach from great scripts! http://bit.ly/d9ZPAT

findingdulcinea:  This company offers customizable e-books; interesting. http://www.flatworldknowledge.com/

cybraryman1:  My Blended Learning page: http://bit.ly/altQDl  #edchat

elanaleoni:   CK12 offers free #opensource textbooks w the ability to collaborate: http://www.ck12.org/flexr/

NextGenLC:  Widespread use of #augmentedreality in the classroom may be far off, but it’s exciting tech. to think about http://ow.ly/2Lai1 #edchat

PCSTech:  Here’s an example of a free, online textbook on NC History, created by @LEARNNC – http://bit.ly/cfewKb  It’s incredible. #edchat

DUMACORNELLUCIA: New blog post Personal Learning Environments, Network and Knowledge 2010 #PLENK2010 and #edtech20 http://bitly.net/b5BSJZ #edchat #P21cs

ECBOE: A Fun World Where Kids Create and Publish Their Own Books: http://bit.ly/92gLYZ  #AETA  #edchat

findingdulcinea:  Here’s our list of 101 great social studies Web sites; why use a textbook when you have these? http://bit.ly/bChZsi  #edchat #sschat

agutierrezIT:  @ tomwhitby I don’t support or defend McLeroy’s influence, but is it any different than NYT influence? http://bit.ly/9vLivW  #edchat

Mamacita:  @tkraz Net is full of ebook deals. Wed. night, for example, you can get @SteveSpangler ‘s new ebook for $0.99! http://bit.ly/dhRn9c  #edchat

vickicobb:  I had to leave teaching to become a science writer for children. No time for both teaching and writing. http://vickicobb.com  #edchat

ESLlibrary:  @englishraven Shared this interesting video about a potential digital textbook http://tinyurl.com/26u52um  Check out after #edchat

ToddAHoffman:  Texas schools use Web-based program to support 1-to-1 learning #edchat #edtech http://sbne.ws/r/5KCe

web20education:  RT @cybraryman1: We have to teach students not to believe everything on internet. See: All About Explorers http://bit.ly/akDbr8  (author:@geraldaungst)#edchat

EDUTOPIA: An article that relates 2 #edchat today: “A Textbook Example of What’s Wrong w #Education” http://bit.ly/cJJegZ

ESLlibrary: @theteachinggame Yes, here is a great new resource on just that from @NikPeachey http://tinyurl.com/29wdtok  #edchat

findingdulcinea:  If you’re studying Pompeii, what does a textbook have that this site does not? http://sites.google.com/site/ad79eruption/  #edchat

GEN_Technology:  RT @Parentella: Keep the Education Conversation Going on Twitter with #EdChat Even After the Hype http://bit.ly/de6OB8  #education

vmc_teachers:   @davidwees Animal in the wild. OMG! I was having the same thought yesterday watching this video on ants http://bit.ly/dbcOHf AMAZING #edchat

findingdulcinea:  What if thousands of great teachers created and shared assignments & resources like this one? http://bit.ly/bPelRl  #edchat

cybraryman1:  @lhmiles2 My Primary Sources page: http://bit.ly/dv09pF  #edchat

elanaleoni:  Good Resource: Gr8 blog that makes the case 2 go paperless by @TeachPaperless http://bit.ly/9EKDVf

cybraryman1:  1:1 Schools are moving toward a more digitalized learning 1:1 Schools page: http://bit.ly/cgH76r

findingdulcinea:  @lhmiles2 Here are all of our offerings – all free. http://bit.ly/9WaysDM  #edchat

jgmac1106:  @tomwhitby A video I start off most PD sessions on using the Internet. The book help desk http://youtu.be/0Cd7Bsp3dDo  #edchat

vmc_teachers:  @lemino Based on interdisciplinary and participation, I believe. An interesting research: http://bit.ly/cHuQPK #edchat

web20education:  Tim Berners-Lee on the next Web #edtech20 #edchat #lrnchat #educhat #web20chat #liveclass20 #plenk10 http://t.co/qVZAfRr

findingdulcinea:  Here’s our ever-evolving Web research tutorial; much more to come on this: http://www.sweetsearch.com/TenSteps  #edchat

lemino:  @cybraryman1 I wish I could participate in the next #edchat It relates to a pervious one and this post… http://bit.ly/aySkTr

Taylor_Learning:  @Carter_Learning Has a great blog post on the e-reader debate. Good supplementary reading for today’s #edchat http://bit.ly/9aRLEv

Tracy Mercier is a third grade teacher at Broad Brook Elementary School in Broad Brook, CT.  She teaches with a passion for integrated curriculum and technology. Tracy is also a Responsive Classroom Consulting Teacher and CT ASCD Board Member.

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