Apple’s Entrance into Digital Textbooks: revolutionary?

Apple announced its entrance into digital textbooks, now selling through its iTunes and iBooks online. Though this has been somewhat expected, it’s exciting news.

Believe me, this is not even the tip of the iceberg. I’ve already downloaded samples of the 8 textbooks listed in the iBooks store. While I think these books will become significantly more interactive and creative in design, much like some of the early digital magazines, they’re already way more interesting than standard textbooks.

Imagine how much students backs and shoulders will love when they can carry five 300 page textbooks inside their iPad.

Way less expensive too!

From Good.is

The average community college student in Washington spends about $1,200 per year on textbooks.

I know that as a society we’re probably in the infancy of this movement to digitize textbooks and in a variety of ways, bring down the costs of textbooks to students. I don’t understand how they deal with fees to the writers of textbooks, but Washington State has created a way to access collections of textbooks as well as other educational materials- mostly for free.  Apparently the most a school can charge for these is $30 per student.

They’ve begun with eighty-one of the state’s most popular general education and pre-college classes taken.  These are open licenses, which means that they’re available to other colleges and universities and anyone else who wants to give them a try.

I’ve already been on the site and looked at some US History text. It’s a pretty easy sign-in process and once I was looking over a chapter, and since I was using my Safari browser, it was easy to highlight, right-click and have my computer read it to me (if I was tired or dyslexic or had another learning disability).

I’ve heard of this before and can’t quite make up my mind about it. This article in Scientific American describes a typographic font created by a graphic designer from the Netherlands, that supposedly makes reading print easier for some people with dyslexia. I suppose if it’s helpful to some then more power to it. I’ve tried it on a few kids I work with and they don’t see or feel any impact yet.

I’d love to hear from others, particularly if you have dyslexia.

This website provides free vocabulary learning material for students to learn English vocabulary online.

Very clear sound, simple illustrations. On older systems the flash applications might take a second to load so be patient.

Free math worksheets by email or download.

Card games that engage students in play that strategically builds reading skills.

I have two friends who teach reading who use these materials and like them. That means a lot. Recommended.

Kit Contains
Audio CDs (6 hours)
Set of 34 lesson cards (8.5″ x 11″)
2 Pocket Reference Cards (2″ x 3.5″)
Color illustration card with photos, diagrams, & examples
12″ / 30cm Ruler
6 colored dice
Pocket carrier to hold all supplies

English Gateway offers ESL students around the world a unique way to improve their vocabulary.

www.stressfreeadhd.com/

www.alphagram.com/