Should schools ditch paper textbooks for good?

Paper textbooks are costing schools more than $100.00 each! Besides cost, traditional textbooks have many other disadvantages.

Disadvantages to paper textbooks:

• easily damaged
• content can become obsolete or outdated in just a few years
• heavy to carry around

Digital textbooks do not have these problems.

Advantages to e-texts:

• cost significantly less than traditional textbooks
• relatively vandal-proof
• can be regularly updated online
• can incorporate video, online connectivity, and other features that can’t exist on the printed page

So why haven't all schools adopted e-texts?

Hurdle #1: The textbook-adoption cycle 

Many states have to keep their textbooks for 7-10 years, therefore must wait on accepting digital content.

Hurdle #2: Truly ubiquitous laptop computing

Many states can not afford to switch over to digital textbooks yet.

Hurdle #3: Wider adoption of distance-learning teaching models

Before states transform to digital textbooks, that must try to come up with a system that combines e-texts with a course management system combining worksheets, quizzes, lessons, and the e-texts.

Here are some interesting e-textbook products out there:

http://www.wikibooks.org/

http://www.overdrive.com/products/

Weigh in-What do your school's use?

http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3750551