Many textbook publishing companies (like Pearson, for example) still publish and sell many paper textbooks to schools. To “get with the times,” however, many publishing companies also offer online versions which include not only the original text in .pdf and eReader formats, but dozens of online activities that support the information included in those texts. These companies sell copyrighted licenses to school that allow both student and teacher access.
In my neck of the woods, language teaching, Vista Higher Learning is the big player in online texts and resources. Their “supersites” allow students to complete online assignments curated and customized by the teacher, which then report back data on how students are doing, how much time they’re spending within each module, etc.
While these new online features are great a marked improvement from traditional paper textbooks, there are some major issues with content. The issue of textbook use in schools today really don’t seem to be about eText vs. paper, but rather: Should we be using textbooks at all?
Pearson is under quite a lot of scrutiny over the content and effectiveness of their texts, as well as their mini-monopoly on everything from textbooks to testing. The problems with bias and inaccuracies within textbooks is well documented, and can have lasting effects on students of color and minorities. Textbook learning is not seen as best practice anymore, particularly in the study of second language acquisition.
In response, many school districts and teachers are stepping away from textbooks entirely in favor of alternative online resources (TED talks, articles, archives, databases, etc.). In Loudoun County, many subject areas - mine included - are no longer renewing their textbook contracts and are halting future textbook adoptions.
As a language teacher, I find myself searching for YouTube videos to use as listening comprehension activities rather than the scripted audio recordings provided by our textbook. Our 7th grade history department has gone completely paperless, providing primary and secondary resources directly to students via Google Classroom. These educational cloud services are a great alternative to textbook teaching, as they help keep students organized and on track while providing a central location for finding resources, submitting work, and collaborating with others. Teachers have more control over the content, and can provide multiple perspectives on a singular issue. The downside is that without massive teacher-to-teacher collaboration and district support, creating these assignments and curating resources is an arduous and sometimes impossible task.
While there is much debate and controversy over eTexts, eBooks are in a slightly better position. An eBook is exactly that: a book that is in an electronic or digital format. These books can be children’s books, novels, plays, fiction or nonfiction. The differences between eBooks and eTexts are the same as with their traditional paper counterparts. Many classrooms are using eBook technology such at Tumblebook and RAZ-Kids. The use of eBooks in schools has skyrocketed, and the increase in their popularity has been seen as (mostly) positive.
There are always naysayers to new technology (Nicholas Carr, I’m looking at you), but most of the studies that show a decrease in comprehension aren’t conclusive (they are usually very small studies), and all of those studies show an increase in student engagement when given a digital text over paper.
As it turns out, many issues teachers have with eBooks - and most new technologies for that matter - is not so much a problem with the technology itself but how it is used. Just like any technology we bring into our classrooms, we need to analyze what the technology actually does, and how our students can use it to best meet our learning objectives and their specific needs. I’ve pulled two quotes that I think sum it up best:
Tablets and mobile devices should never completely replace the human interaction between teacher and student. These devices should instead be seen as facilitators of enriched learning experiences, bringing stories to life and testing the reactions, knowledge and concentration of users. from "The Growth and Effectiveness of Interactive Ebooks for Learning” via Digital Book World
Heather Kirkorian, who helps run a cognitive development lab at the University of Wisconsin, said she has had similar experiences, but has seen positive results with ebooks. They just have to be used correctly. "We do find toddlers learn more from the screen when they’re interacting in a very specific way, not just any way,” Kirkorian said. “Really focusing on the device and what the device can afford is not as productive of a conversation as ‘How can we use this tool?’ This tool is in our lives, in kids’ hands, how can we use that tool and create media content that’s actually beneficial" from “Are Ebooks Good Or Bad For Learning?” via The Huffington Post
So what do you think? What is your school’s stance on textbooks? Do you and/or your students have access to both paper and digital texts? Or are you moving away from textbooks entirely? If so, what are you replacing them with? What role do eBooks play in your classroom? Leave a comment below, I would love to hear your thoughts!
The entire five years I have been teaching math (both at the high school and middle school level), we have never issued or used a math textbook. In one higher-level math class (Algebra II), we did provide students with a code to reference the textbook online, but I'm positive I could count on one hand how many who actually did! All the work students we provide is teacher created (or "borrowed"), which I prefer. I like that each year as we use the same material, we can assess how students do and can update it to reflect what the students struggle with year-to-year. We also have the ability to update provided information while we are teaching, which is something a textbook doesn't afford.
ReplyDeleteHalo Frau Dorsey! I was wondering, as a language teacher, does the idea of your department doing away with textbooks worry you at all? Are you able to find enough resources for your students through other channels? Podcasts and Youtube videos come to mind, and as an English teacher I certainly tried to work as many of these media into my lessons as I could. Are those and other web resources enough to replace the books in your classroom? I picture a classroom where books, print or electronic, have their place alongside other media to help students learn. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteTag, Zack! I've never used a textbook to teach German, mostly because they very dated and inauthentic. The audio files are painfully scripted, and the readings are just as bad. YouTube is my best friend, and I belong to two different Facebook groups of German teachers who willingly share self-created and online resources. I also use a site called "This is Language" that has hundreds of videos of young Germans talking about specific topics like family and hobbies. I can search for a video based on what we are studying and then create a handout to go along with it. Infographics are also fantastic alternatives to traditional text, as they are both visually appealing and contain a lot of useful data that I use to foster classroom discussion on various topics. As far as books are concerned, I have a sizable (and growing!) classroom library of German children's books that I have collected over the years from friends, colleagues, and used book stores. They are authentic materials that are also at an appropriate level for language beginners.
ReplyDeleteWe still have textbooks that we issue to students. I know our math textbook is online and most students prefer to use the online book that lugging around the textbook. I sort if wish my Spanish books where completely online, most have an online component. I have one book which was published in 1987 (the year I was born!) and we still issue it! I hate this book it's outdated and has inaccurate information, I rarely use it and tend to make my own materials as well as look for things online. I have a couple of YouTube videos which I use but I need to find more conversational Spanish to share with my students.
ReplyDeleteWe have science books that are traditional but we also have the online version. I usually use both. I wish we would get a good math text, online or not, but the current one is outdated being that it really doesn't align with the standards and no one uses it. I use various websites to supplement their learning.
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