[CALIBK12] California opens the door to free open sourcedigital textbooks

Thu May 7 20:02:17 PDT 2009

My two cents:

1.  How about using the initiative for free digital textbooks to again raise the need for free online database access for all California students? Use of a VARIETY of high-quality information sources has shown in a host of studies to improve student learning. Why JUST free digital textbooks?

2. How about forming a group of school librarians state-wide to match the content in the approved digital texts to high quality open-source content on the free web? The texts would gain power immeasurably by supplementary sources that target different reading levels, learning modalities, etc.

3. How can school librarians facilitate interactivity and collaborative learning efforts--within school communities, across school communities, and with the world beyond---that are organized around the content of state-approved digital texts?

4. We need to get a very good school librarian on the panel that approves texts, to help articulate criteria that makes #1, 2 and 3 above possible.

5. How about a CSLA sponsored pilot project in which students use the digital texts and a school librarian (with the abundant help and support of other CSLA members) implements our best ideas?

6. Digital textbooks are inevitable. Let's start working on the implications NOW and lead the way, showing our school communities how instrumental the school library is in 21st century learning. 

Doug Achterman
San Benito High School
1220 Monterey St.
Hollister, CA  95023
dachterman at sbhsd.k12.ca.us
http://www.sbhsd.k12.ca.us/sbhslib/library.htm

________________________________

From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu on behalf of Jeanne Nelson
Sent: Thu 5/7/2009 7:22 PM
To: calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] California opens the door to free open sourcedigital textbooks

Hello everyone,

Weighing in on the discussion, when you issue four or five texts to a high school student, you are issuing the price of a Kindle, and digital textbooks do not get lost or damaged or returned late.  The Kindle may be lost or damaged, but I anticipate the cost will go down dramatically, like every other technology.

I was amused to notice that these free digital materials target math and science, right after California has completed their adoption of texts in both subject areas.  Now, if these digital materials had targeted language arts, the next adoption area, I'd have been really excited! There would actually be a cost savings.

The Kindle has the additional advantage of controlling the print size, and I believe audio is also provided. You probably know that today, Amazon announced their textbook version of the Kindle, and agreements with Pearson and Cengage for texts.

Jeanne Nelson, Ed.D.
Murrieta Valley USD

	-----Original Message-----
	From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu [mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu] On Behalf Of Barbara Duffy
	Sent: Thursday, May 07, 2009 11:31 AM
	To: Thomas Nixon; calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu; Ann Sperske; GlenWarren
	Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] California opens the door to free open sourcedigitaltextbooks

	You make good points.  This will be an interesting procedure.  Hopefully good decisions will be made.

	Barbara

	>>> Thomas Nixon <Thomas.Nixon at fresnounified.org> 5/7/2009 11:11 AM >>>

	The problem with using a Kindle is that there is no cost savings. Even with some sort of education discount, they would still be three times the cost of a textbook. Add to that the amount of money in losses each year (because it really is easier to lose a Kindle than a textbook). Add to that the number of Kindle repair and support people you would need to add as employees to a large district.

	Think how hard it is to get a student to pay for a $70 textbook. Now multiply that amount. Also, Kindles would be high-theft items.

	I do think we will be moving to some sort of digital reader. I think we need to be looking for an as yet undiscovered company that can make them for $40. You never know, but I expect that it may not be Apple or Amazon.

	And, yes, Williams would require you to supply each student who needs one with one.

	Tom Nixon
	--
	Teacher Librarian
	Tehipite Middle School
	630 N. Augusta Street
	Fresno, CA 93701
	(559) 457-3420, x. 570
	Web: http://www.tehipitelibrary.org <http://www.tehipitelibrary.org/> 
	Blog: http://notyourmotherslibrarian.blogspot.com <http://notyourmotherslibrarian.blogspot.com/> 

________________________________

	From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu [calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu] On Behalf Of Barbara Duffy [BJDuffy at lbschools.net]
	Sent: Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:27 AM
	To: calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu; Ann Sperske; Glen Warren
	Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] California opens the door to free open sourcedigitaltextbooks

	How about morphing to a Kindle for the books.  Wouldn't that serve the purpose?  And students would be responsible for returning them in good order just as they are with textbooks now.

	Barbara

	>>> "Ann Sperske" <asperske at nvusd.k12.ca.us> 5/7/2009 9:45 AM >>>

	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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