Monday's class helped to highlight some of the different ways that I'd forgotten about to search using Google. One becomes too accustomed to getting some good results from the general search field that you forget about the advanced one. Here are some examples of the pages that I've gotten in just a few days that seem to be working out well with my research:
Google
-> Advanced Search
-->General field: Textbook Phrase: Secondary Market Words: ebook
http://chronicle.com/article/The-End-of-the-Textbook-as-We/125044/
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20101102/03282611679/colleges-experimenting-with-bulk-buying-e-textbooks-and-forcing-students-to-pay-up.shtml
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2010/08/will-e-books-replace-physical-college-textbooks/61003/
As I have searched, good treasure troves of information have been few and far between. Most of the information on the subject appears to have been written between 2001 and 2007. With the introduction of the Apple iPad and the various Google-based tablets out there, it seems odd to me that there hasn't been a resurgence in innovation within this arena. Most of the information that is current seems to be of a strictly private business nature (dedicated company web-pages) and not of any articles or analysis on the subject.
I've searched multiple combinations that I can think of -
cost
value
open source
distribution
etc...
Anyone have any thoughts?
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The First Step...
I admit this will feel more like a ramble and not a definite plan...but rest assured, I've been doing my research. The premise of my argument and how difficult it is to prove has not been lost on me. Really, though there are many resources out there with lots of materials to give me tidbits of information I've not found the treasure trove. Government committees have been formed to look into the entire subject of textbooks pricing and their effects on students. And while it is entirely beneficial to look at those reports, I'm looking at a wider view here.
I haven't been very clear about what my intentions are concerning my topic with good reason. I'm looking to mold this into a profitable springboard for me and a company that I am in the process of forming. The way I see it, the student market in universities are resentful of the current climate in the textbook world, and I am looking for ways to enhance and make more relevant the learning experience.
Fast forward 20 years from now... or 40 ... or 100. Paper will be a relic. Learning will come, as it always has, from multiple formats...only with a single piece of technology to aid us in visual and auditory learning outside of the classroom. Tablets are a great way to visualize this concept. The entire printing industry is still figuring out what they can do with this new arena. I see an education application that has text, video, audio tracks, links to primary source materials, video conferencing with professionals in the subject, online study groups that can collaborate quickly and efficiently...all in one. How do we begin in that direction?
I haven't been very clear about what my intentions are concerning my topic with good reason. I'm looking to mold this into a profitable springboard for me and a company that I am in the process of forming. The way I see it, the student market in universities are resentful of the current climate in the textbook world, and I am looking for ways to enhance and make more relevant the learning experience.
Fast forward 20 years from now... or 40 ... or 100. Paper will be a relic. Learning will come, as it always has, from multiple formats...only with a single piece of technology to aid us in visual and auditory learning outside of the classroom. Tablets are a great way to visualize this concept. The entire printing industry is still figuring out what they can do with this new arena. I see an education application that has text, video, audio tracks, links to primary source materials, video conferencing with professionals in the subject, online study groups that can collaborate quickly and efficiently...all in one. How do we begin in that direction?
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The Beginning of the End...
Current textbook prices, availability, profitability and production limitations have allowed the college educational print industry to stagnate. It’s imperative to innovate as the student population is moving into more of a mobile informational lifestyle. In 2008, 18,632,000+ people attended higher education in the United States (according to the US Census Bureau). These students come from a variety of backgrounds and have varying degrees of comfort with computing and/or mobile devices. It is safe to say that the demographics of the student population is increasing, both in number and mobile dependence.
The current climate with e-Textbooks is not conducive or favorable with helping to push students and teachers to the next level in education. Many teachers assign texts to bolster their in-class lectures and presentations. Others, primarily the authors of the texts, use the textbook as outlined in the class. While I cannot fix the fundamental problems inherent in the higher education forums concerning student’s study habits or classroom interactions, one thing is clear: the current COST of textbooks is robbing students of the VALUE that is provided therein. Thus, most students resent having to purchase a text, and more so the paltry cash returns they get at the end of the semester in a vain effort to justify the initial cost. In order to provide more value to the student it is necessary to have relevant and competent information to enhance coursework, as well as options that allow for greater discussion and focus on course content. Several solutions will be proposed later.
The current climate with e-Textbooks is not conducive or favorable with helping to push students and teachers to the next level in education. Many teachers assign texts to bolster their in-class lectures and presentations. Others, primarily the authors of the texts, use the textbook as outlined in the class. While I cannot fix the fundamental problems inherent in the higher education forums concerning student’s study habits or classroom interactions, one thing is clear: the current COST of textbooks is robbing students of the VALUE that is provided therein. Thus, most students resent having to purchase a text, and more so the paltry cash returns they get at the end of the semester in a vain effort to justify the initial cost. In order to provide more value to the student it is necessary to have relevant and competent information to enhance coursework, as well as options that allow for greater discussion and focus on course content. Several solutions will be proposed later.
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