[CALIBK12] California opens the door to free open source digitaltextbooks

[Ann Sperske]

I read this and wrote a letter to O'Connell and Arnold immediately. Great concept but there are so many problems with it. Access. Format. Compatibility. Hardware. Computers. Editing, publishing, reviewing, parent support  and school board review of new adoptions. The list goes on. We don't even have enough computers on campus to have each kid trying to access a textbook. No computers in the classrooms. Funding issues. Broadband issues. Publishers' lobbyist groups. Database access for every school -- quality databases like SFPL has. 
 
We need a teacher librarian at every school, heading every district library services dept, support staff in every library, fully funded school libraries, refresh protocols for technology, standardized professional development for staff on information literacy ... and so much more before they try out digital textbooks withOUT support. 
 
Just a thought. 
Ann Sperske 
Google Certified Teacher Librarian 
Vintage High School 

 
 

________________________________

From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu [mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu] On Behalf Of Glen Warren
Sent: Thursday, May 07, 2009 9:01 AM
To: calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
Subject: [CALIBK12] California opens the door to free open source digitaltextbooks


California opens the door to open source digital textbooks.  Here is a snap shot of the press release and the link provided below.
 
Gov. Schwarzenegger Launches First-in-Nation Initiative to Develop Free Digital Textbooks for High School Students
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today launched an initiative to make California the first state in the nation to offer schools free, open-source digital textbooks for high school students. The Governor directed his Secretary of Education Glen Thomas to ensure these resources are available for use in high school math and science classes by fall 2009, a critical first step in helping ensure digital textbooks are widely available to all California students.
 
link:  http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/12225/
 
Glen Warren
Coordinator of Media Resources
Orange County Department of Education
200 Kalmus Drive
Site Location:
3001 Red Hill
Costa Mesa, California 92626

Phone: 714-966-4208
 
"There are only two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as if everything is."
- Albert Einstein

________________________________

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