Books Will Be Very Rare in Schools in Less Than Ten Years
Not because every school will be like St. E’s with its new IPad lab. And not because all schools will be issuing lap tops to their students (although many will).
But when broadband is ubiquitous, and schools stop being concerned about what screens (smart phone, lap top, eReader, desktop) students use to access their lessons and assessments, there really will not be a good case for schools to invest in books.
Schools will still have to invest in books. The publishers will switch to e-books and charge nearly as much for them. Unless we switch to an open-source textbook model.
Several of my child’s books already are available online – E-book access comes with the purchase of the dead-tree book.
Delaware schools already have a web-based system capable of delivering assignments and handouts electronically as attached documents, but they don’t use it for that purpose, even though we have already paid for it and it is in nearly every school.
As you point out, with so many stakeholders, it takes a while to get to a tipping point. But that tipping point is out there.
By most measures (e.g., SAT scores), kids today are not as well prepared to start college as they used to be, say back in the 70s.
If you REALLY want to dumb down education, just turn the kids loose in the schools and at home with their iPads and smartphones to text each other, check Facebook and do everything else other than studying.
I cannot WAIT to see the “positive” influence all these screens will have on educational “achievement” . . .
If my kids can get their books electronically, even if the cost savings is not as great as it should be (gotta protect those publishers’ profits), there is a bonus. Their bookbags will not weigh more than them. It’s a wonder they haven’t ended up in chiropractic care.
It is true. My kid’s bookbag weighs 1/4 his body weight, when filled only with the books he is required to take home each night. And rolling bookbags are not allowed.
If you REALLY want to dumb down education, just turn the kids loose in the schools and at home with their iPads and smartphones to text each other, check Facebook and do everything else other than studying.
There is a need for a parent-friendly firewall that will put a student’s computer into homework-only mode, blocking all the non-homework sites. I already do this using my geek powers, but I don’t think there is anything available that most parents can use, and that also cannot be trivially defeated by an ordinary teenager.
anon, the kitchen table is how we restrict use of the internet while doing homework. Also, when things are noisy and the children retreat to their rooms with a laptop, I monitor whether they are on chat mode or not. A few severe groundings that involve no electricity consumption has proven worthwhile.
Fortunately the homework that actually requires Internet access is pretty rare so far for us.
We decided to let our kids have computers in their rooms, because they use them to do creative writing and keep diaries, and also as their sole media player (CDs, DVDs, and access to the family media server).
They actually didn’t have any computers or game consoles until they both had good reading habits. It seems to have paid off.
But they only get Internet access on weekends, or occasionally on school nights if hw is done. And their computers don’t have cameras or microphones. And they have to leave the door open when using Internet. And I have all the usual monitoring tools. So far, no problems.
Our “groundings” take a different form: if there is a long-term project due, all electronic entertainment is shut down if it is not making satisfactory progress. And that includes the family TV.
Although my little one is 6, she has her own computer. I have restricted websites she can visit through her profile in my router (yeah for DD-WRT) check how to do it here. http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Access_Restrictions And yes, for now I’ve blocked Google from her computer.
Not sure what I’m going to do when she gets older though 🙁
And anon, you’re right. General purpose software is no match for any youngster who really wants access to anything.
Homework is done at the Kitchen table-in full view – house has an open floor plan – so we keep an eye on it.
computers are in the bedroom, but they have no internet access – the only computer with internet access is in the family room and all is there for anyone to see. Certain sites are allowedm but no free browsing.
The adults have wireless note-books so there is no over-lapping issues and grounding entails no electronics, no TV, no Nintiendo, no internet, no computer
maybe that’s why the reading scores are off the charts…LOL. Books are king in this house.
dd-wrt is how I do it too…
Also point the kids to OpenDNS free “FamilyShield” DNS servers, that provide a basic parental filter for free (no software needed to install):
* 208.67.222.123
* 208.67.220.123
So far the history shows the filters haven’t been hit once, so that’s good.
We ground all electronics, too! Once a child is tech grounded they can earn back time. 15 minutes for each A. However, if they build up time and bring home one bad test grade, all time is wiped away and we start over. Having a way to earn back tech time was a big incentive. Less pouting/sulking, more studying.
This worked really well in elementary and middle school. Now with a soon to be HS senior… while I still monitor the internet, I’m not as diligent. We focus more on communicating about what he finds on line. Sheesh, he’ll be heading for college in a year and a half so we’re more concerned with his learning smart internet use and to be aware of certain sites and the crap out there.
It’s always challenging at every age because… once you get a system you’re comfortable with… the rules change!
Sheesh, and you guys are liberals I’d hate to see the restrictions a conservative imposes on their child’s internet use.
@meatball – LOL – its the conservatives kids that raise hell…., but we’re smart Liberals, which just PISSES elitist conservatives off, coz we don’t buy the paplum…..and I am Loving Pandora’s method…
Think I’ll adapt it, if you’re OK with that Pandora?
Like the post about attracting well-educated scientists into moving to a state (Kansas) that promotes ONLY the theroy of creationism in their public school (and why that leaves the well-educated cold) – I left Kansas many years ago coz I thought it was backwards then…..in the 80’s….It hasn;t gotten better.
and Texas is out too coz they are ordering books that minimalize minority contibutions to society and want to replace Jefferson with Aquinas in their History books…..I want Aquinas taught, I’ll send my kids to Catholic School, thank you. Or I’ll teach his theology and the City of God myself.
Go for it, Aoine!
One sneaky thing I do is set my sixth-grader’s home page to news.yahoo.com. His browser history shows him clicking on a lot of current events.
In two Christiana Schools both my granddaughters attend there ARE NO books. If you dont get it off the black board you don’t get it. The Race to the top is Pie in the Sky. Its really a race to the bottom. None of the legislators nor the Governor would even review the Quality District Model for real reform. Guess all that money from the fed was worth losing a few more generations.