California Brings Electric Books

By Lara Anderson
June 23, 2009

Textbooks are heavy, clunky, outdated, and expensive, according to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. That’s why he plans to do away with them, in favor of electronic textbooks. He recently announced plans to make electronic versions of math and science textbooks available in California public schools this fall. High school math and science classes will be the first to make the switch to electronic textbooks.

Critics of this plan say schools don’t have enough computers to allow each student to use electronic books. But Governor Schwarzenegger says it’s important to make the change now because it will help kids learn-and save the state millions of dollars during tough economic times.

What Are They Like?

Electronic textbooks are read on a computer screen. These textbooks are interactive, meaning students can search the text, watch videos, print pages, highlight and make notes within the text, and add bookmarks to help organize information.

“If I want to understand a calculus problem, I could click on a link in a digital textbook and watch someone solve it,” Rae Belisle, a member of California’s State Board of Education, told The Mercury News. “Better yet, I could watch them solve it over and over again.”

And unlike printed textbooks-which usually are used in the classroom for six years-electronic textbooks can be updated constantly. This gives students access to the most-up-to-date information.

Why Now?

California officials are looking for ways to cut costs in the state’s budget. They say they want to limit cuts to education programs. The Governor’s plan to introduce electronic textbooks could help save millions of dollars for the state. With six million public school students, California spent $350 million on textbooks last year.

Schwarzenegger says electronic textbooks will cost much less than printed ones. Some of the electronic textbooks being considered for use in California schools are free.

“We must do everything we can to untie educators’ hands and free up dollars so that schools can do more with fewer resources,” Schwarzenegger wrote in the San Jose Mercury News.

Electronically Challenged

But not everyone is on board just yet. A major problem is the lack of access to computers. In fact, there is just one computer for every five students in California schools. Critics of the Governor’s plan point out that any money saved by using electronic textbooks will have to go toward technology expenses.

“Every kid, every classroom, needs access to the Internet and to a computer if you’re going to talk about putting textbooks on the Internet,” Sheila Jordan, Alameda County Superintendent of Schools, told The San Francisco Chronicle.

Jennifer Black, a San Jose English teacher, agrees. “Most of my high-achieving students have computers at home, but a lot of my struggling students don’t,” she told The Mercury News. “I don’t assign homework by e-mail or ask for papers to be typed because online access is just not a daily part of their lives.”

Positive Thinking

Neeru Khosla is the founder of CK-12 Foundation, an organization that seeks to reduce the cost of textbook materials. Khosla supports the Governor’s call for electronic textbooks. She says that not every student needs access to a computer as long as the teacher can print out pages or use a classroom projector to display materials.

“We need to get our kids excited about learning,” Khosla told The Mercury News. She says that’s just what electronic textbooks do.

Source: Scholastic News Online

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com