Our Daily Red: The paper chase takes a turn
By Dave
February 26th, 2009 | Leave a comment
We’ve been waiting for this one.
As usual, colleges and universities are at the forefront of adapting digital technologies. Music downloads, texting and other media uses are a ubiquitous part of campus life.
And now Northwest Missouri State is looking to go totally digital with textbooks.
Junior Kevin Green tells NPR, “I find it easy to just go through it as [the instructor] discusses it in class and highlight things as he brings them up,” using his school-issued laptop to access the textbook. He is one of 500 students in a test group going all-digital.
Digital textbooks haven’t exactly swept the country yet, finding pockets of acceptance and pockets of resistance.
The digital textbook of the future will go way beyond simply reformatting text for e-reader — it’s likely to include video and all form of interactivity, adapting available Web technology. Modern students expect no less.
Cost is a big factor in the move: One book can cost upward of $200. E-book versions cost about half that, says NPR – which still seems ridiculously high.
Seems an enterprising professor and a few media-savvy undergrads (is that redundant?) could put together a nice e-book with a few bells and whistles for one-quarter the going rate and still make a killing. Viva la revolucion!
See the NPR story here.
Our Daily Red isn’t often daily and is seldom red, but it is written by DelMio Editorial Director Dave Wilson.
