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

[Blanche Woolls]

Yes, this has caught us unawares and after our spring programming, but we 
need to take a leadership role in how this happens. We need a core of 
teacher librarians like Ann who can point out the problems and then show 
how teacher librarians can be the solution. If we don't, then teachers 
will ask for 25 computers in every math and science classroom and we will 
be locked out.

The need for available laptops to check out from the library at night is 
one solution, too. Someone might call Joe Marrone, technology guru in the 
Quaker Valley Schools, to make some suggestions. His school district gave 
every child from grade 3 to 12 a computer to put in their backpack more 
than five years ago. Their grant monies wired every home that didn't have 
access to the Internet and they had people on staff to go to the homes to 
fix any problems. Their libraries are the center of that project. You 
might even get Joe to come out for a strategy meeting. He consults 
frequently with a well-known software/hardware company in Silicon Valley.

We have enough good thinkers in California to do this as soon as possible. 
Textbooks are going away! It could be the catalyst to bring teacher 
librarians back, especially if you tie it into Dave's learning commons.

Don't I wish CSLA was next week. All of this only increases your need to 
attend CSLA this fall. Please register now and then make your plans to 
share rides, share hotel rooms, bring along a suitcase of instant oatmeal 
and Ramon noodles.

Blanche

On Thu, 7 May 2009, Ann Sperske wrote:

> 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
> 
> ______________________________________________________________________________________
> ORANGE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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