The Governator Gets One Right, Proclaims Time to Move On from the Textbooks!!

[Alan Sitomer]

Despite being 0 - for about 216 in terms of educational plate appearances for the state of California, Governor Arnold made an announcement today that elevates his batting average.

He announced, and I quote...

"I think it is so important that we move on from the textbooks."

The game is changing, folks. The game is changing. And since I so rarely quote Ah-nold with a smile on my face, let me continue...

"The textbooks are outdated, as far as I'm concerned, and there's no reason why our schools should have our students lug around these antiquated and heavy and expensive textbooks.

"California is the home of Silicon Valley. We are the world leader in technology and innovation, so we can do better than that."

You hear that sound? That's right... it's the beginning of every school in this country NOT flushing their money down the toilet buying these -- to quote Ah-nold -- "antiquated" educational tools.

Wow. Double wow! How long before the rest of the country follows?

[Gary Anderson]

Can anyone suggest a palatable euphemism for "textbook"?

[James Miscavish]

I still dislike the kindle. I have thousands of ebooks backed up on computers and external HDDs that I can't read on the Kindle. They just know added native pdf support to the DX, and the format problems on the small one looks poor. Heck, Stanza conversion to my iphone is better than on the kindle.

It's just an ipod for books. Expensive with expensive accessories and a closed system.

Now, if the price of Kindle books fell considerably, I'd consider buying one.

[James Miscavish]

Oh snap...should be just now, not just know. Yikes!

[Alan Sitomer]

We need tools that best serve the needs of today's students. And who are they? Well, here's one possible insight...

[Michael J]

Great video!

[glenda funk]

Thought provoking. One thought: There are high-tech and low tech ways to avoid paying attention in class. The video begs the question: How did namy of these students manage to graduate?

[Michael J]

Alan,
We are exactly on the same page with this one. I think we may look back on this week as the end of the textbook industry that has existed for the last 40 years. And with you I say, good riddance. You might be interested in an idea that I have about how versioned student focused newspapers can replace textbooks. If anyone has any observations or comments they would be much appreciated.

For context, my blog is focused on the digital printing industry. That's where I spent most of my professional life. Now that I'm retired I'm trying to get their attention to use the awesome (sorry for the hyperbole, it's a blogger's tendency) of versioned personalized print in the service of education and stop chasing advertising.

You can find the post about clickable newspapers at http://tinyurl.com/kj8ncg

[Alan Sitomer]

That is supremely interesting stuff. And what I love about it is that once we get the fossilized, antiquated materials out of the classroom, all sorts of creative, innovative ideas have room to enter. The textbooks aren't just cumbersome, they're blocking the pathway to innovation instead of leading the path towards innovation.

But then again, you can't expect Blockbuster Video to ever invent Netflix because it cannibalizes their bread and butter. Same thing here. The status quo can't be expected to dethrone the status quo.

[Michael J]

It would be great to hear how teachers in the classroom might play a game of Imagine now that textbooks are going away. The problem for someone who knows the technology is that without classroom teachers to choose what might work then to tell what might be improved we go back to top of the pyramid solutions that sort of work most or some of the time. But then you get into "learning technology" and "rolling out initiatives" instead of helping today's kids succeed, today.

Back in February, I found a wonderful description of the learning process at Jim Burke's blog. in February at http://tinyurl.com/nqzzmn. It was a really great spur to get my old print filled head thinking.

[Joseph Scotese]

I honestly believe that innovative ideas have nothing to do with how old the tools that are being used are. You can do the most creative things in the world with a pen and a piece of paper. Why would a computer or other technology make otherwise mediocre lessons or teachers anything better. I believe that it is not the tool but rather what is done with it. Someone might argue that more can be done with modern technology - perhaps, and there is nothing wrong with those that do utilize technology. But there are also teachers whose best work is a lecture, a discussion, or the close examination of a text - whether that text is in a book, a laptop, or an iphone - matters little.

[Michael J]

Students have different learning styles. Teachers have different teaching styles. One size fits all in dresses, men's suits or teaching/learning are never as good as custom made. If "technology" doesn't take that into account, it's just more magic pills in a world that doesn't have any magic pills.

Every politician, admin and newbie teacher spends alot of time searching for magic pills. It would be so much easier. But it's not. You cannot replace experience, knowledge and empathy.

For my friend Michael, empathy is NOT being a soft hearted liberal. It's much more like tough love.