California Moves Toward Online Textbooks

While this may save money in the long run, as almost everyone is agreeing, this will put the poorer students at a disadvantage. Also, while this may be great for many students, there are some people who just can't read a large amount of text on the computer. I am currently attending graduate school, and any time I have articles that I have to access online I have to print them out. I am not able to read a 20+ page article on the computer. My eyes and head just can't handle that much text on the screen. But having the book, or the paper in front of me doesn't cause me any problems at all.

I think they would almost have to have both options available.They could cut way back on the number of books they have to buy, and still have online textbooks available for those who could do so.

What an awesome idea if they use kindle instead of computers they will save tons and the poor kids won't trash their backs carrying all those books.
Using kindle is way cheaper than a computer for those that need to be subsidized for this learning media and lacks the ability to be turned into roaming entity on the internet. As for the cost of kindle versus books, have you looked at the cost of books? Educational books are extremely expensive sometimes $50 each and you need 4 to 6 books every year that you are in school. You are looking at @40 books not needed per student. This method would allow teachers to have additional books downloaded, to expand their teaching abilities and explore important events,thoughts and the newest ideas out there. No rush to the library to fight over one of their 3 copies of the Anne Frank Diary, etc.
To the person who says educational books don't change....boohucky. There was a significant difference in the way my history books were constructed and the emphasis on different cultures as versus my son's history books. I remember that there were new books issued (first printed for that year) at least 3 times during my public schooling and the old books we turned in were sometimes only 5yrs old. So using kindle would make a whole lot of economic sense, financially for the state, health wise for the kids(less to hump in a backpack) and for the trees.
Let's just make sure that "The Govenator" gets the kindle vs. computer message.

Money saved in one area will be spent in another. What about all the students who can't afford a computer? What about their electric bills? What about power outages? I'm beginning to feel like I'm living in a science fiction movie. If we stopped multi-lingual voting information, etc., stopped providing translators for the legal system, and special classes to teach English to the foreign (usually illegal) students we'd save a bundle right there! Our budget crisis didn't happen over night, it can't be fixed over night!!!

That is just wrong on so many levels... but one is that you could no longer take you book outside with other students to study together or at the burger place together. Also you can't go back and forth and underline and write in notes. And a major problem is that you are getting away from having a wonderful physical hardcover book in your hand. A BOOK....
not even getting into poor students, cost of extra computer to the state , updating computer constantly which is way more expense than a book, etc.

They need to rethink this whole issue

This would be a great idea IF every California home, rich, poor, and illegally alien, had a computer. My daughter's high school text books were rife with factual errors. Math books are the worst - they are written by mathematicians and math teachers to whom the material is intuitively obvious. My daughter, who is fairly bright, but hated math, could make easily make sense out of them, and was not motivated to try. Unfortunately, computer access is not universal. Textbook access is. This idea is a bit too far ahead of its time.

Most Libraries in CA have free internet access and so do school libraries. What CA would have to pay for is expanding the hours those libraries are available. And the schools could print out the info just for the kids who do not have access. School websites have programs like Black Board that students can log onto to get the lectures as a slide show and you can print them as handouts with space to write notes. For poorer areas adding libraries and resources for the community would create some jobs. Friends of the Library can help with book donations and some other libraries can send duplicate copies to the new libraries. Any one can point out obvious problems. How about brainstorming some solutions? During the Great Depression people knew how to pull together and help each other. That is part of how they ended the Depression. Working together for the greater good. Spewing negativity is not helpful and does not require intelligence.

The truth is that a majority of students in Calif are illegals and don't even speak or read english very well! So who is going to subsidize all the computers for them and then have to have the software in spanish!
I bet the main reason for this change is the gay mafia, and there education of tollerance, and the normality of homosexuality, all the way down to first grade. This is the reason they need to update these books! The books are fine now, its those who want to change the education to there need and desire can't do it without new books every year!

Pity the poor teacher who makes a lesson plan only to find the text has changed. Why bother with a lesson plan when the makers of online text can make changes for the sake of making changes and get paid for it. Imagine---Turn to page 115---oops that was yesterdays page. Well California can save even more money by giving every student a computer and eliminating teachers. Better yet---With every student having a computer, they can eliminate schools. Judging from the illiterate and ignorant remarks made by people responding to these blogs, computer possession does not always do much for education. Responses don't even come up to the level of sophistry. Stick with the books. Kids need leaders (teachers) to keep them focused.

This is dumb - why is this even an issue?

Make textbooks available to those who want it/ need it - REUSE!! Cut spending by making fewer new textbooks.

After a few years, the state will save enough money that they can afford to start subsidizing laptops and other devices they can read off of. Maybe even create a program with a company to make something JUST for reading textbooks (like a kindle but less expensive). You apply for it like you would apply for financial aid.

I had one course that required a lot of reading in college and it would have been wonderful to read it off my itouch while traveling on the NY subway - especially bc it was HUGE.

This is a great idea, we have seen a program like this work. Backpacks can be very heavy, and some schools don't have lockers so the students are carrying the backpacks around all day. For students without computers, I know that can be a problem, but many schools have computer labs, and the students can print what they need. They also have libraries the students can go to. The program we have seen, is free for the first year. The student is able to download just what they need and take it with them on the IPOD to school and hook up to a computer at school, not all IPOD's support the software. Another thing, for students that can't afford the IPOD or computer, the school more than likely would have business that would be willing to make donations for such items. It's all in the name of education and tax breaks. Don;t cut the idea out too fast, it's the new technology. When you look at the cost of a text book that is lost, this is much cheaper. The state should set-up Beta schools, and test it out. Students will like it! Parents will too!

The idea has merit but as stated poor families, such as the HUGE influx of illegal Mexican families, will not have the same advantage as students whose families can afford a computer at home. If trying to save money you wouldn't be able nor would you want to afford computers to every student who didn't have access at home. Also, not mentioned are the royalty costs involved in accessing these books online. The textbook companies are in business to make money. If the book is offered online you can bet there is a fee. How much money are we really talking about saving and what impact will this plan have for low income students. Perhaps if we send the illegals back there would be enough money. The problem is, ALL the free services provided to people who haven't obtained permission to enter our country.

Great idea if you have the tech support to back it up. I taught in California using computers and in the 3 years I taught the district sent a tech supporter to my classroom ONCE. Imagine trying to teach 30 students with 25 slow performing computers.

First of all, I completed some graduate courses while utilizing online textbooks. I hated it. I had a hard time sitting in front of a computer screen and reading. I need the text in front of me so I can highlight important information and write notes in the margin. Secondly, why does the article say that Arnold REFUSES to raise taxes. What a lie! Our sales tax recently increased a whole percent. I am now paying 9% taxes on items I purchase! It is expensive to be working adulut in California because I am helping support millions of other people in this state.

I have a crazy idea, why dont we use the same textbooks that we used last year instead of getting new ones every other year? Being a high school math teacher I can honestly say the math curriculum hasnt changed much and every new book we get is pretty much exacly the same.

is this an area that needs to be cut?

On the surface it may be a good idea, but the article mentions nothing about the health issues this raises. The human eye does not see text on a monitor the same as it does on paper. Paper and ink have depth that causes less eye strain. What about those students with epilepsy? Would the constant flicker cause them problems? Then, if we are to be greener, how much power consumption would occur? Technology should be a tool, not something we should rely on so completely. On a lighter side, it brings new excuses for the student. I couldn't get my reading done because my dog ate my power cord.

I have a question for the ppl that think its a good idea to expand this technology (its already in use, i use it now). When the schools purchase a book its a one time fee and its used for 2-4 years. The way online books are done right now you purchase access and that is llimited usually a year or so. then what about who ever the provider is. some of you act like there will be unlimited downloads, but bandwidth is very expensive and I would just about bet neither the publisher, the provider nor that state is going to pay for it, it will be passed onto the tax payers. Who provides the equipment whether its a computer, Kindle or whatever. These things are highly portable and are subject to breaking, theft and damage. who pays for that or does the kid just not get the lessons. Some have stated expand hours of schools and public libraries. Where does that money come from and now your spending the money thought to be saved. They may have worked all this out and its not in the story but this will not be a more cost effective way to educate our students.

this day and age everyone should have a computer at least one, we have five here and a laptop. it is too hard to live without them now.

Welcome to the 21st Century. There are computer text books available fairly reasonably...anyone ever heard of Kindle Books? Check it out on Amazon. They require no "internet" connection and are always connected at the touch of a button by a single, small, handheld instrument about the size of an average hard cover novel, but as thin as a magazine. There is no reason that a state's school system from Grades K-college can't buy into or own such a program. I'm sure Kindle would love to talk to the tax payers of California about supporting such a program.

My high school kids are very active in sports...travel ball fastpitch, and baseball. Many weekends during the school year we are at parks in different cities and in hotels. Their books come along with us in order to get the homework and studying done. Are parents now going to have to purchase laptops for each kid?? Aside from the glare issues on screens from the sun, what will happen to the days of actually sitting down with a BOOK in your hands? Flipping pages, and placing post-it notes on sections? This idea may work better as an "option" for those kids that prefer studying off of computers. I know my kids are more hands-on and have succeeded as such...both AP/Honors students with 4.3 and 4.0 GPA's.