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Has the future of education arrived? Last week I wrote about how Apple’s new iBooks textbooks are changing the way students in grades K-12 are learning. (An Apple for the Student?) In November, I wrote about Inkling and how its interactive textbooks are changing the learning experience for university students.
Now that interactive textbooks are becoming available for grades K-12, their implementation in our education system seems to be a part of our future. But is this change for the good?
When calculators were first introduced in the classroom, controversy erupted, with some worrying that students would skip learning math skills because they could solve equations more easily using a calculator. Others believed that students could excel to higher levels of math problems by using a calculator to solve basic equations after they had mastered simple functions. Calculators, which used to cost hundreds of dollars when first introduced, can now be found in the dollar store.
What do you think? Are iPads worth the investment for school districts? Are you convinced by the results of the HMH Fuse study showing students’ math scores improved by 19% when using iPad textbooks? If the financial issues can be worked out, do you think interactive textbooks are a valuable learning tool or a hinderance to a real educations? Vote in today’s poll and let us know!
As a tribute to physical books, check out this brilliant video made by the owners of Type bookstore in Toronto, Canada:
Do you wish you had interactive textbooks? What new features would you like to see offered in digital textbooks? If you were the head of Amazon, how would you compete with iPad textbooks? Let us know in the Comments section below!
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Many thanks to Geoff Talbot for featuring my writing today in his brilliant Seven Sentences blog, Dreams Give Birth to Creativity.
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* Classroom image by macattck
Great poll! Many of our kids are so tech-savvy that an iPad would be an easy tool for them to use. But there might be big hurdles getting them into schools. Unless, of course, we let the kids teach the teachers on all the ways an iPad can enhance their education! lol
Hi Carol, Excellent point. Teachers will have a learning curve as interactive textbooks are introduced into the classroom. Hopefully, teachers will have as much fun as students in discovering the joys of interactive textbooks.
However, even if teachers don’t delve into all of the features of these textbooks, students can still explore on their own and have fun playing with the features provided within the textbooks. These books don’t change the information presented in the physical textbooks, they just enhance what is on the printed page.
Whether they are in the classroom or not, kids today are becoming increasingly adept on iPads. Personally, I think that technology (if integrated thoughtfully) can only serve to enhance the classroom experience.
That video is VERY cool! And it’s my town, Carolyn – I’m so proud (though I’ve never been to TYPE). Thanks for sharing!
Hi Ruth, I hope you have a chance to stop by Type. The owners of the store put a lot of work into the video. I have watched this video several times and always pick up something new each time I watch it. I would love to visit that store and meet the owners!
I really look forward to seeing the results of this poll, Ruth. If schools provide the iPads, then they can restrict what apps are on the device. No games, email, Facebook, etc. But if the students bring their own iPads into the classroom, the distracting apps will be very tempting. We really are witnessing a huge transformation in our education system.
Does the education need to be that visual?
While textbooks becoming iPad-ized is unescapable, yet I question the very concept of making everything visual and interactive.
IMHO, teaching by visual aids gives rise to less exercising your thinking power, analytical abilities. The best research work in any field doesn’t come from whats already out there, so hardly any visualization. Its the ability to think out of box.
I know I sound terribly old while I say this. But this is something I strongly believe in. We should stress less upon visual learning, and more on logical, analytical, imaginative learning.
Hi iRewardChart, I truly appreciate your perspective. I know we have disagreed before, but I don’t think we disagree this time. You’re right, children need all kinds of learning. They need to interact in groups, participate in class discussions, make presentations, write papers and learn to think analytically. These books take learning to a new level but they don’t replace all aspects of education. By seeing objects from different perspectives, but manipulating images, by seeing the effects on an environment over time, students can then apply their analytic thinking on a higher level.
At least that’s my vision.
Carolyn, aloha. What a fun video. Thx for sharing it.
Given that today’s children were raised with computers and technology everywhere, it makes sense to me that interactive textbooks would stimulate learning. The reason is that we learn by doing. If a child is involved with the textbook, they are more engaged rather than passively flipping pages.
As a mother and a techie, what do you think?
best wishes for a terrific week ahead. Until next time, aloha. Janet
W
Hi Janet, I agree with you, interactive textbooks can stimulate learning, but I also agree with iRewardChart that teachers should use many forms of teaching not just interactive textbooks. Class discussions, individual and group projects, hands on experiments and other real life experiences are also valuable in teaching our children.
As a replacement for physical textbooks, interactive textbooks offer many advantages. I would be very excited to have them available for my children.
Forget kids, everyone is getting addicted to technology these days. In a day and age where we blame kids for not being interested in books and reading and focusing all their energies on technology; why think of taking them to books; let’s bring books to them! This shall create interest and it will be linked to their likes…
It might work wonders!
Hajra, How right you are! I was thrilled to get Inkling’s interactive textbook The Professional Chef to try. I used quite a few recipes from the book for my holiday dinner. It was fun exploring the book and seeing all of the cool features. It made following the recipes easy too!
I also liked getting the free chapter from the iBooks store. I spent longer “testing” the book than I thought I would. I can only imagine how much fun kids will have while they learn!
I think kids today are already so tech savvy that this would only enhance their learning experience anyway. I do believe though that the schools should supply the iPads and not allow the kids to bring their own. That way, no apps will distract the kids with them not being allowed on the school’s property.
That was a really cool video Carolyn! I’ll also have to stop by your guest post and check that out as well. 🙂
Hi Adrienne, Good point. There won’t be a steep learning curve for kids on the iPad. Interestingly, not every kid is tech-savvy. We assume that they are but some kids don’t seem to click with tech. iPads are very easy to use to even kids who aren’t comfortable with tech will be able to adapt to interactive textbooks on the iPad.
I could see students who bring in their iPads from home being very tempted to play games on them during the school day. You’re right, Adrienne, the school controlling the content on the iPads in the classroom has to be the only way to go!
Thanks so much for stopping by my guest post. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to contribute to Geoff’s amazing blog today!
I think it will help kids learn; we have to find ways to keep them interested in education and I think this is one of them. There are so many ways it can be used to make it fun and exciting; time to start thinking outside the box for the way we educate kids these days.
Hi Bill, Great point. When learning is fun, kids will become more engaged. These interactive textbooks are very exciting. I can imagine kids who will be disappointed to reach the end of their assignment.
If the kids are interested in learning through ipad or any other digital media then they should be encouraged to go forward. Kids should be taught the advantages and disadvantages of using digital media like ipad to learn new things. I believe there should be a balance of both – the books as well as interactive textbooks.
Hi Lauren, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I agree with you, balance is a good thing, especially in children’s education. It’s important for students to experience physical books as well. In the real world, not all books are going to be ebooks, much less interactive digital books. Students need to learn how to use an index, glossary and bibliography without pressing a screen.
Hi Carolyn,
Interactive textbooks are the wave of the future and I do believe they will enhance learning. Children have different learning styles and these new textbooks may be particularly helpful for certain types of learners. Some material can be learned in a game format, and it will be helpful for middle and high school students who may be able to lighten up those heavy back packs if their texts are on an ipad. Love the video.
Hi Cathy, Great point. Different kids have different learning styles and interactive textbooks may really help students who struggle with learning from a physical textbook. I like your game idea, making learning fun, but it’s also important for kids to be able to learn without being entertained. As Lauren said above, a balance would be good. 🙂
Hi Carolyn,
I believe it’s important to invest and start testing iPads, but the school districts in Norway lacks money. I’m not sure if they can afford this, they can hardly afford regular books. And I’m not sure about if most teachers are up for the challenge either, but they should be 🙂
Hi Jens, Yes, money is tight around the globe. What Apple needs to do is to make these textbooks cost-efficient for schools so that using them not only imparts benefits for the students but becomes economically beneficial for the schools as well.
I imagine a leasing program would be the ideal solution. Schools could pay a monthly or yearly fee to lease iPads. Apple could offer lower prices to schools who were satisfied using older model iPads. For example, the original iPad could be used with these books just as easily as the iPad 2. Schools who wanted to upgrade to the latest and the greatest iPad would pay a bit more and then schools who wanted to pay less could use the older iPads.
But this plan works best if schools can save money over buying physical textbooks.
I hope that every school in the world is given the benefit of having these interactive textbooks, Jens.
Hey Carolyn, The Dark Globe February Shoot Off! Photograph Competition has Officially Begun, For More Info Head Here http://thedarkglobe.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/the-2012-dark-globe-february-shoot-off-has-officially-begun/
You’re Welcome to let any Photographers you know, know about the Competition
Thanks Carolyn
DarkJade-
Thank you for letting us know about this contest, Dark Jade. Best of luck to all Wonder of Tech readers who enter! (*)
What a great utopia to give the students iPads! But I think it is not possible in the reality, I am not sure I would want to pay for it if my daughter just dropped or lost it. On the other hand I do agree on how useful it would be. That is a dilemma! 🙂
Hi Emilia, Welcome back to The Wonder of Tech. Excellent point, iPads being lost or damaged is a big issue that hasn’t yet been addressed. Would parents have to pay a deposit to the school before an iPad is issued? Would schools offer iPad insurance to the parents?
As with any advance, advantages must be weighed with disadvantages. These issues must be sorted for this unique idea to be adopted widely.
I liked the way you have set up the information for the poll. I agreed with your previous article as well when you wrote about iPads for students, and i have to vote YES for this poll too.
Students should be given the right kind of exposure be it with advanced technological gadgets or something else. This will surely make them learn more and arouse a new interest in their studies for sure.
Hi Praveen, Thanks for voting. So far, you seem to be in the majority. Most voters have voted in favor of iBooks textbooks.
I hope the cost issues can be sorted because children should be able to have access to superior ways to learn. If their interest in learning is increased because of the interactive features of these books, that would be fantastic. 🙂
Yes, I think there is nothing wrong with our kids using interactive textbooks for learning. One of the teaching strategies effective for kids is allowing them to have fun learning and it is great that they could use these devices for learning as well. This would also help them adjust quickly to the advancements in technology.
Hi Susan, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Great point! People assume that kids are all tech-savvy but that isn’t true. Interactive textbooks can help children be more comfortable with tech. 🙂
Eh…
As a recent graduate from UC Berkeley, I’m going to say that interactive textbooks does not pose a problem for the education system. In fact, interactive textbooks are great when intertwined with the ‘old’ ways of teaching.
What’s scary about interactive textbooks is who will have access to these textbooks. The education gap is already wide as it is – imagine how vast and wide it will be in the future? I’m not saying we should NOT have interactive textbooks. What I am saying is that interactive textbooks should be available to all students (if given out).
In addition, they should find a way to stop monopolizing the pockets of our students – and really try to focus on helping them instead (not taking their money).
For example, if you look at China/Japan – many of them do not own interactive textbooks or high quality educational equipment. Yet, the learning curve to ours – is HUGE!
Think about that.
Hi Jonathan. Great point. I agree, interactive textbooks should be available to students around the world. We are having Chinese students live with us on an exchange program this week and they are way ahead of us in math. But they admit they are far behind in American history.
Sorry I am a little late to this great post. I firmly believe that online, interactive textbooks are the future of education and that five years from now, hard-copy textbooks will be almost obsolete. Think about it, when we went to school in the 60’s, 70s and 80s, parents couldn’t stay in touch with their kids’ teachers on email, there were no school or teacher websites, there were no smartboards in the classrooms. But we did have those big, heavy, clunky textbooks. That is about to change and school districts across the country have to make plans to get on board, or fall behind!