A couple of months ago almost all of the textbook publishers active in Croatia sent out a number of panicky e-mail messages to teachers in the country asking for help. The Ministry proposed a legal ban on “interactive” textbooks (those containing exercises you do by writing in the book), because they are too expensive not to be reused, thus undesirable.
However, interactive textbooks and workbooks are vital to modern ELT – we need interaction, information gaps and pre-prepared activities to teach – otherwise our job comes even closer to impossible. If there’s something to save money on it’s not our textbooks.
And then a couple of weeks ago this video reached me: http://www.apple.com/education/ibooks-textbooks/
What Apple basically proposes is replacing paper textbooks with tablets (I think they’re aware of the fact not everyone is going to get an iPad). It surely makes students' bags lighter and the materials more interactive (Star Trek inevitably comes to mind). The tool for textbook creation is free and advertised as easy to use. But there are some questions I cannot escape…
- I’ve been having trouble making my teenage students buy books as it is. How on Earth are schools going to make people buy tablets for schools?
- Will this new type of textbook really have a better effect on studying than basic pen and paper learning?
- What kind of an effect will all of this typing and swiping have on handwriting?
What do you think? Are we becoming too technology-dependent?
Love to all,
Dora
- dxplorer's blog
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Comments
Dear Dora,nice topic..day by day,,,we addicted to use technology...So,,,I have to go class now and turn back you again with my suggestions ;) Cool thanks..
You're welcome! :)
I've also been wondering - How do bloggers here feel about the current textbooks and the idea of creating their own textbooks/materials?
Great topic! You know that they could soon introduce tablets instead of teachers books for us. That will be interesting ;)
Just the other day I made a joke saying that - my grandmother used a thumb print instead of a signature and new generation use a mouse click instead of a signature ;)
I like the idea od ibooks but children won´t buy tablets, where I work families don´t have the money. The only solution I can think of is computer equipped classrooms in every school. If the Government wants technological advancements let them invest, not the people ;)
Just yesterday Turkish Government started off an educational campaign giving out tablets in secondary schools.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/school-children-to-get-tablets-in-february-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=10355&NewsCatID=344
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tablets-not-made-for-handicapped-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=12735&NewsCatID=344
This is only being piloted and I am watching with great interest because it's like a test for our ministry of education with fire (technology).
Are the infrastructure ready for this (WIFI, cables, internet connection, speed...etc.)? Is the curriculum ready to implement such an integration? What about students with special needs? Have there been in-service and pre-service training to support this innovation?...etc. So, all these questions remains to be seen.
Thanks for raising this issue :)
Hi Dora,
I read three years ago that our next generation wouldn't have any idea about pens, pencils, paper but only computers, typing, printing, wifi, etc. Definitely, we are very addicted and dependent on technology. My Ss are so engrossed with the computers and new gadgets that I think that prediction will come true. I don't know either it's a good thing or not but techonology progress is advancing every day. What should we expect? a virtual world around us?
Dear Dora !!!
I liked the idea of iBooks !! It's very impressive !!
Moreover, I liked your link very much and I'm looking forward to implementiation
of my dream !!!!
Great thanks for sharing!!!
At my school we've already replaced the "workbook" with our own material, all in Moodle. Students have lessons scheduled in the computer lab plus they all have computers and internet access from home so all of the exercises and small quizzes are done on Moodle. If students had had tablets (in essence mini-computers) in class it would be a welcome improvement. However, as you mentioned, tablets are expensive so it is difficult for schools to ask parents to buy them. The development from paper to computers/tablets/smartphones can not be stopped though and I'm sure it will be the norm when my daughter (she's 5 now) gets to Middle School. I don't really care what happens to "handwriting skills" as I am sure that will be a forgotten art in a generation or two anyway.
:-)
Some schools already have tablets, don't they? It would be interesting to hear how they work in practice - the uncensored face 2 face version, not the TV version. If I'm not mistaken parents can see the grades in real time? That simply must lead to some fantastic situations. :D
I like your joke. :D I'm kind of nostalgic about handwriting, though - I think it's a skill worthwhile to have...
And your last sentence... :D :D:D:D I live for that day. ;)
That's so interesting!! So all the children get a tablet? I wonder how they'll deal with the kids having internet access during the lessons. I guess IT teachers should know how to deal with this, but the others? Did they receive special training?
Some special needs students will have difficulties - but to some it might be easier using a tablet IF it has the "Ease of access" options PC usually have.
Dream? Really?
You should try iAuthor and design a page or two. Maybe you like it and become a textbook writer. :)