After watching the video and reading the following article what are you initial thoughts about the transition Apple is proposing to move away from standard 10 pound textbooks to iBooks that can be read, stored, and used like a normal textbook however incorporate the convenience of the iPad. How do you think this evolution would affect not only the classroom setting but also society in general? Also, are you in favor of the proposed idea? With the start of the school year in full swing, is this something you wish was an option at WSC?
These articles are from almost a year ago but this is still a current hot topic issue! What are your thoughts?
http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/19/tech/mobile/apple-ibooks-2/index.html
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2012/01/19/apple-expected-to-unveil-digital-textbook-platform/
I feel myself that i like to have a hard copy of a textbook in my hands to look at. I can see many benefits of the electronic textbooks but i think i would still prefer the hard copy. It would be very nice to only have to carry an ipad around campus instead of lugging around textbooks all day. They said that the cost would only average fifteen dollars per edition which would be extremely nice. That is basically a fifth of what most text books cost. For some reason i just think i prefer the print edition because there is too many variables on an i pad. I feel like everyone that owns an apple product at somepoint has lost all the information they have on it. Then i would always have to have it charged and with how forgetful i am that in itself would more than likely be quite a task.
ReplyDeleteAs a student, the idea of carrying around a lightweight iPad instead of 4 or 5 heavy textbooks is very appealing. If companies like Apple could get the idea of eTextbooks to work for high school and college students it would be revolutionary to the school system and to society. I think kids would be more apt to read through their textbooks on their iPads, and videos to help us learn would also be entertaining but at the same time helpful. I am in favor of the idea because textbooks these days are getting ridiculously overpriced for how little we actually use them. If eTextbooks were an option at WSC I would definitely appreciate learning a lot more.
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ReplyDeleteThe idea for using Ipads for PDF textbooks is a great invention. The way evolution would affect us would not only be in the classroom setting but also society in general with the way people look at electronics now a days. Society would have to start to become more advanced with the technology. It would be a big change for people to look at a little computer rather than a 10 pound book. I think that this is a good idea to get going in university's and other schools, maybe even starting with younger kids because they are going to grow up with it. Having all your books on a Ipad makes it easier on you and schools. You personally don't have to worry about carrying around a heavy book and paying the high prices they are priced at. Schools wont have to worry about issuing you a book and paying the overprice cost for an outdated textbook. If WSC had this as an option I would highly consider it because I am an Ipad owner and it is so light and it would be nice to carry around that instead of all my books.
ReplyDeleteGoing to e-books from textbooks could be a good idea. I mean look how much money you are saving just with purchases a book with technology help. in a classroom i can see where it would help elementary students and some high school students, but i still think that it should be a college thing. i'm not trying to discriminate towards age i'm just saying that technology devices are expensive and the fact that there a lot of skeptical Apple Products people out here in this world. I think for certain classed is would be okay but i'm more of a hand on person and like to highlight and if you could do that with and Ipad, kindle, or even tables then sure id be in favor; and plus it would save us as students a whole lot more money! I think if you WSC had the option to rent e-books out it would be popular. Would you want to keep a college science book in your reading list? i know i wouldn't and its sometimes hard to sell e-books through amazon or even rent them out with a different company. Like I mentioned it would be a whole different ball game if you could rent e-books for semester use only and not have to buy the e-book and keep it if you know you'll never use the book again. That being said if you buy a text book you can always resell it. So my final answer would be yes i would support going with e-books instead of text book because the pros outweigh the cons in a larger whirlpool.
ReplyDeleteI think it could make the classroom setting a funner place. With an iPad all the students can easily access links such as videos and or quizzes. If a class were to start using this system all students would need to have one there couldn't be other students with textbooks just to avoid any problems and everyone would be on the "same page". Society is already drifting towards technology for a lot of things. I think the iBooks idea could work but there is still room to work out little kinks. I personally wouldn't mind having my books on an iPad just becaue i don't like carrying a bunch of books and I feel like I could potentially be more organized.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that there will be a time for the k-12 students to replace text books for ipads and other tablets but i do not think right now is the time for it to happen. One reason is because of cost, not all kids can pay for a ipad or tablet. the article says the ipad would still be more expensive then text books that could be used for a high schools students four years of schooling. Another reason is because of the durability of an ipad or tablet. they are targeting k-12 students which might actually be the roughest and most care free period of a persons life, so to put a fragile item in there possession might not be the smartest choice.
ReplyDeleteAt the press conference, Schiller mocked paper textbooks, saying, "They're not portable, not durable, not interactive, not searchable."
ReplyDeleteThis quote gives only a few good points about the switch to using ipads for books.
I think the evolution would help classrooms. I think it would help students get the right materials they need in a way they are used to seeing, I think we are so used to being on our phones/computers that it would help us.
I would be in favor of this because for me I know I would learn better from an interactive screen rather than reading from an outdated textbook. I also believe that it would be much easier to update new material and new additions to an ipad instead of getting rid of a book and having to buy an entire new one. To me it seems much more efficient and cost effective.
I would like to try this at WSC. It would be nice to talk o someone who knew all the ins and out of it before I started, but it looks fun and exciting to see that we are finally moving away from the dreaded textbooks.
I feel that this is a great idea to move modern electronics into the classroom because the world that we live in today is a digital world. However, I also feel that is not a good idea because this becomes very pricey and not all schools can afford to have an eBook or iPad. Purchasing one of the electronics is all most four times as much than buying a textbook and will not last as long. It would be a poor investment if schools completely made the switch to a eBook or iPad; however, it would be more sensible if some schools offer certain classes that used this technology. Here at Williston State College having a eBook would be a good idea seeing that some students have to pay a fortune for books. It makes a bit more sense for a college student to carry this item around as apposed to seven year old.
ReplyDeleteI feel this a great proposition by apple as since technology is evolving things should start evolving with it. We live in a ruled world by technology by now so why not bring it into the classrooms. The government should be able to provide the money for each student to get eBook and it will be more convenient for students as its lighter. Also the eBook will have students more enthustiac about learning than textbook that some students may never open.
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