For the past few years I have been considering adopting online textbooks for my classes. On Friday, the Statistics department I teach for put a call out for proposals to select a common textbook for the Statistics I course offered at UST. As such, I intend to explore the idea of using an online textbook rather than the paper version common in higher education. In part, I chose this area for my blog topic as many of the faculty in my department believe our students do not read the current paper text. Perhaps the adoption of an online version will change this perception of the faculty.
My initial search has led me to Atomic Dog publishers, which specializes in online textbook technology. The textbook I have begun to review is called Introductory Statistics: Concepts, Models, and Applications by David Stockburger. This particular text offers interactive tools such as statistical calculators, glossaries, and end of chapter quizzes.
Please check back as I will explore these various interactive tools in order to develop my proposal. As I do so, I intend to share my findings within this blog. If you have specific questions you would like to have answered, please let me know and I will do my best to respond.
One of the textbook series I have has an online textbook option. We have a classroom set of paper copies but each student can access the textbook online. I think the students appreciate not having to carry around another textbook, especially since some of their books are big. This textbook doesn't have many features aside from viewing the book, but I too would be interested to see what other books are available that have more interactive features to them. I know that with the ipad, kindle and other book readers that people are starting to get used to not having a paper copy of a book. I still like to have a paper copy of novels that I read, but I don't mind reading articles online. I can't wait to hear more about this.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter has electronic versions of two of her high school textbooks. This is still a pilot project for her school. The hardback copies are kept in the classroom and each student has a code to acces the digital text. She loves this program. In high school, she has so many supplies and books that one book bag is not sufficient to carry everything home on heavy homework nights. Now, she is two books lighter. She can download and print chapters that she wants to make notes on. And, her back feels much better this year. The school benefits by keeping the hardcopy books in good condition for longer. A few copies are available in the school library and the rest are in the classroom. For students that do not have computer access or have a hard time reading a monitor, the school provides hard copies.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear this happening in other places. I had an assistant principal in my class this summer who was going to implement online textbooks into the social studies curriculum at a HS in ND. He was very excited for many of the reasons you both describe. Thanks for your comments and I will add more as I learn more.
ReplyDeleteI was skeptical when I started my student teaching last spring and both of the classes, one math and one Spanish, were using online textbooks. I thought this would be hard on students, as I often find myself turning back through chapters and/or looking at multiple pages at the same time. However, students shared that they much preferred using the online textbooks. Also, school districts were saving a lot of money as they were not having to buy as many books; hopefully they were putting their saving towards technological improvements. One of the drawbacks I observed was the dreaded inconsistency of the internet. Many students would say the internet was down and therefore could not complete an assignment. I realize that this may not have always been the case, but we have all experienced some issues with the internet not cooperating. Also, one of the students shared his feelings of standing out because his family could not afford internet and he was the only one having to take books home at the end of the day. Back to the positive side of online textbooks, what a way to support our environment and all the extra tools are wonderful. Can't wait to hear more about your proposal.
ReplyDeleteAs a technology educator, I should not say this but I have to confess that I have resisted the idea of e-books for the longest time. I have just ordered my first e-book for a future course. With the arrival of iPad, I am more curious and excited than ever in wanting to try out e-books because of the many advantages that you have mentioned in your second blog post. Would love to exchange notes with you once we all have experimented with using iPad as the medium to read ebooks.
ReplyDeleteInteresting comment Suzanne. I had not given much thought to lack of Internet access. I currently require my students to use Blackboard for accessing assignments, working on datasets, completing exams, etc. At the beginning of the term I make it clear there are multiple locations on campus in which to access the Internet. I suppose teaching at a commuter college or K-12 may create problems for some students. Thanks for sharing your experience. As instructors, I suppose we would need to make sure the students have ample time to complete an assignment. Even so, there are those who will always have 'dog ate my homeweork' story!
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