iPad Education Revolution

markmarc

I really thought it would be next year when colleges would start exploring the iPad as a textbook medium. It looks like a handful of institutions are starting early. I'm personally psyched to watch this paradigm shift in how textbook material is presented electronically on iPads (and competitors in the next few years).
http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2010/08/george_fox_university_tries_ou.html

exalted512

I cant believe it hasnt already caught on with things like the Kindle...but then again...text book manufacturers are evil.
-Cody

packetjones

I saw someone post this about the subject and thought it was very interesting... This is what will happen more than likely.



College textbooks are typically obsolete after two years - you very often can't sell them to the next year's student. That includes math texbooks - apparently numbers don't add the same way after two years. And it even includes LATIN textbooks - though the language has been dead for a couple thousand years.

Some people find this unacceptable. Two years is too long. They want to sell it to you as a DRM'd ebook - licensed to you and you only - that'll last the duration of your course. If you have to repeat the course, or if the next semester's course uses the same book, you purchase it again. And no, you won't be able to sell it after.

There's great savings in distribution and storage costs. You won't see them - just like you don't see them in popular fiction ebooks. But this isn't about you

cnh

Most of us already use electronic copy that can be downloaded from library servers as PDF files for the latest scholarly info for our students. But most quality scholarly research takes years to PUBLISH....

So the idea that information is INSTANTANEOUS is a bit 'uninformed'...and in the sciences most editions of NEW textbooks are NOT really updated SIGNIFICANTLY within a year or two. I have colleagues who merely change the page numbers and add a few pages so that they can sell a NEW edition with the least amount of effort for profit. I don't condone this nor do I engage in this.

But it's really important to remember just how much TIME it takes to bring REAL research and NEW knowledge to PRESS! It's not like WIKI where 'anyone' can edit something in 'real time'.

Though I am in favor of MORE electronic versions and use more each year. I am not ready to toss the BOOK out just yet. One of the reasons is that researchers in some fields can't get what they need in e-form...and ARCHIVES across the world will probably NEVER make it to e-copy...plus there are things you can tell from the ORIGINAL that you cannot preserve in an e-version.

So yes and no. 'Context' is important.

To add a small example...we had a Dean who proclaimed the end of the book and tried to eliminate some VERY IMPORTANT collections for some scholarly fields that he, a behavioral scientist showed GROSS IGNORANCE Of? Those professors raised quite a number of excellent questions and counter-arguments for such arrogance on his part. Needless to say our library remains one of the most invaluable resources on campus...and one can try endlessly to reproduce or find ALL this knowledge online---try as you may--you cannot!

cnh

markmarc

CNH:
I'm not in any way trying to end books as a physical medium. My students are requires on all reports to have a physical source for every electronic one. My focus is on textbooks and its ability to be sharply focused on the courses students take. You mention the role some professors play in making minor changes just so they can makes some extra $$. I believe this would all but end the practice.

markmarc

exalted512 wrote: »

I cant believe it hasnt already caught on with things like the Kindle...but then again...text book manufacturers are evil.
-Cody

I've heard one problem is that they are not ADA compliant, though I have yet to check on this. The bigger problem is that it is too limited as a content user device. As the Pad war gets rolling look for all sorts of different possibilities.

treitz3

They want to sell it to you as a DRM'd ebook - licensed to you and you only - that'll last the duration of your course. If you have to repeat the course, or if the next semester's course uses the same book, you purchase it again. And no, you won't be able to sell it after.

I find this practice unacceptable. I can understand the "not" selling of the book but once you have purchased it, the licensee should have lifetime access to that book for any future reference.

tonyb

How about those students that don't have an Ipad ?

markmarc

tonyb wrote: »

How about those students that don't have an Ipad ?

I'm betting you will see schools selecting a specific content device. At the college level the students will purchase the chosen device upon entering their first semester. With elementary/secondary school, the school will purchase and each year pay a fee to the textbook manufacturer to download the "textbook" with latest updates for that year with preselected units.

tonyb

Sounds like another big cash outlay for students who allready get slammed on books,tuition. I have a friend who's kid just payed 400 bucks for a book. You don't think once everyone gets the selected device,they'll get dragged over the coals from the costs of download content? I find it somewhat of an elietist mentality to require Ipads from students.

exalted512

Maybe the price will be lower so buying one will pay for itself in a couple years.

I would typically buy the previous edition or the international edition. I would literally be paying $100 for books that other students would be spending $500+ on. Even by just going to Amazon instead of campus bookstores can save students $100s of dollars. I found a seller on Amazon selling a particular book for $20 less than the campus bookstores were buying them back at. I bought all 5 he had and sold all but 1 to the bookstore. Haha
-Cody

markmarc

tonyb wrote: »

Sounds like another big cash outlay for students who allready get slammed on books,tuition. I have a friend who's kid just payed 400 bucks for a book. You don't think once everyone gets the selected device,they'll get dragged over the coals from the costs of download content? I find it somewhat of an elietist mentality to require Ipads from students.

That depends on what the total cost of texts will be via the traditional way, or the electronic way. If cost per text is cut by 30%, the savings over 4-5 years of college is pretty hefty even after the initial electronic investment. Especially, as the prices drop from competition of Pad devices

One thing I'm looking at is the ability to take highlighted text passages and intertwine them with classroom notes into a single document to study. Add in various images/videos/graphs of examples and finally, a pen that can scan sentences from books and import the writing into the study document and the student has a pretty impressive single study reference.

exalted512

I just don't see it happening. There's no way there will ever be a way to just have books 'expire' after a semester. Sure, they can try it...but are you shittin' me? A 17 year old kid was able to unlock the iphone. If you think the youth of America aren't going to be able to figure a way around that, you're dead wrong.

Then every book is going to be on limewire...or emailed around the university that uses it...sales flop...

I doubt it'll happen in the next 5 years.
-Cody