From textbook to techbook!

South Korea plans to convert all textbooks to digital, swap backpacks for tablets by 2015

By Zach Honig  posted Jul 3rd, 2011 at  6:39AM

 South Korea announced this week that it plans to spend over $2 billion developing digital textbooks, replacing paper in all of its schools by 2015.

Students would access paper-free learning materials from a cloud-based system, supplementing traditional content with multimedia on school-supplied tablets.

Both programs clearly offer significant advantages for the country's education system. 

Source: MIT Technology Review  The Chosunulbo

What are other countries plans? What are Australia's plans? 

Will we go digital soon ? Should we? 

There are now multiple avenues to access digital textbooks (techbooks) at no cost. Some are older versions, some have been written specifically using licences allowing free access such as Creative Commons and GNU Free Documentation. It is simply a matter of knowing where to look.

NEXT STAGE: From textbook to"techbook" 

Multimedia; Multiplatform

Indicative of the growing movement toward digital textbooks, Florida has approved the Discovery Education Science Elementary Techbook for Florida for classroom use. 

"As a holistic learning system, the Techbook integrates the nature of science and inquiry into every phase of learning. With stunning videos, colourful text passages and interactive simulations, the Techbook kindles student interest in how science relates to their everyday life, stimulates critical thinking and deepens students’ understanding of core concepts."

 Let's go beyond the textbook.

See what Discovery Education is now offering-(only in US) 

Science techbook-Over 40 Media Types of Content Available

Check out the video at  Introducing Science Techbook.

Here are a some weblinks to further explore this issue:

Why Focusing on Digital Texts Is a Good Step   

Week Five: Digital Textbooks – Are We Ready?

How the Internet is Revolutionizing Education - TNW Industry

Open Source Textbooks

iPads Replace Textbooks in Brookfield, CT

What IS the future of textbooks?

Online textbooks: Hope or hype? 

So you want to use e-textbooks next year?

Courtesy of: Schools.com