Awesome Technology
A snapshot of what's available, February 15th, 2013 In-Service Day
       
Home Page

1.0  Search Engines
   1.1  Most Popular
   1.2  Search for Kids
   1.3  Image Searching
   1.4  Search Techniques

2.0  Online Encyclopedias
   2.1  More Resources

3.0  Online Books
   3.1  Digital Textbooks
   3.2 Self-Publishing

4.0  Online Video
   4.1  Webcams
   4.2  Video Editing

5.0  Online Geography
   5.1  More Maps

6.0  Online Collaboration
   6.1  Online Software

7.0  Free Downloads

8.0 Works Cited 		    3.1 Digital Textbooks
 The dream of every student, to never have to carry a heavy textbook again, is becoming possible through the use of digital textbooks.  Currently our students are familiar with websites like ClassZone and Holt Online Learning.  Most textbook publishers are offering a web based versions of their books.  Students and staff members can access these resources using usernames and passwords. Almost all of our students have an internet connection at home and most have a high speed connection which makes accessing these online resources very easy (2008 NMS Student Technology Use Survey Results).  Additionally, these books are available on CD's so students who don't have a high speed internet connection can still benefit from the multimedia offerings of newer online textbooks.

These new developments have come at a cost.  It's estimated that the average price of a college textbook rose 186% from 1986 to 2004 (US News, Oct. 2006).  At least part of that increase can be attributed to the increased expenses of creating online multimedia versions of standard texts.  With new information technologies becoming available every day it's not likely that the development costs will come down either.  At the same time, new technologies are making it possible for some teachers to leave the textbook behind.

This "Awesome Technology Website" is an example of an online textbook.  This online textbook was created using a webpage editing software, a high speed internet connection and some web space.  It is available online not just as a reference during a morning in-service day workshop but it will continue to be available as long as its on the internet.  Further, as this website gets indexed by various search engines other internet users from all around the world will find it and possibly use it to further their own research. 

For more information about the use of online textbooks here's a link to a news story from KansasCity.com about the demise of thick paper books at Northwestern Missouri State University:   http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/974812.html

For some idea about what text books might look like in the future watch this YouTube video from the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas: 

Question:  What's cheaper, text books or one of these for every student?
=      
 

© 2008 - 180techtips.com