I've been looking at these flexbooks, and I like that they are cross platform and customizable with rights freely distributed. Take a minute to look at the video tutorial. I <i>think</i> I saw an html add button in the content editor, which would be crucial for 21st century e-texts; they'd have to incorporate embeddable web 2.0 tools. The flexbooks are still flat and lacking engaging media though. Also, the flexbook ck12 library isn't nearly comprehensive enough to be a one-stop solution for NC's e-text needs. As to those needs:<div>
<br></div><div>... perspective...</div><div><br></div><div>NC is looking at re-thinking its funding for paper textbooks. We currently spend about $650 per high school student every 4 years on textbooks. We could buy 1:1 technology (netbook), fund e-text/course development, <i>and</i> save a TON of state dollars if we pursue this idea.</div>
<div> I'm coming to this forum late, but I'm coming from the governor's e-learning commission (thanks for the link Jason), and I'm doing some info-seeking for how the state can approach the transition from antiquated, expensive textbooks to an e-text model. I've also been tasked with writing up the educational benefits of e-texts. I'm curious to see your thoughts in this area, as we'd almost certainly approach this from the direction of open-source software/files. Maybe I should start a new thread with this question?<br clear="all">
<br></div><div>exciting, right?</div><div><br></div><div>One more question for the forum: When one moves into an e-text approach from textbooks, is there a line between course creation and content creation, or do we just jump right into LMS (blackboard is a commercial example, google sites is a free alternative) course creation and skip the e-text step entirely?</div>
<div><br>thanks,<br>-shu<br><br>Mike Shumake, MSA<br>NCVPS Teacher/Evaluator<br>Evergreen District, Wa English<br><a href="http://www.facebook.com/shumake" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/shumake</a><br><a href="http://www.twitter.com/mshumake" target="_blank">www.twitter.com/mshumake</a><br>
Resume: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/shu-ncrew" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/shu-ncrew</a><br>Cell: 919.395.1494<br>Skype: 360.450.0460<br>Skype username: mike.shumake<br><br><br><br>Messages sent to and from <a href="mailto:mike.shumake@ncpublicschools.gov" target="_blank">mike.shumake@ncpublicschools.gov</a> are subject to Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.<br>
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 12:00 PM, <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:osdc-edu-authors-request@redhat.com">osdc-edu-authors-request@redhat.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
Send Osdc-edu-authors mailing list submissions to<br>
<a href="mailto:osdc-edu-authors@redhat.com">osdc-edu-authors@redhat.com</a><br>
<br>
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit<br>
<a href="https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/osdc-edu-authors" target="_blank">https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/osdc-edu-authors</a><br>
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to<br>
<a href="mailto:osdc-edu-authors-request@redhat.com">osdc-edu-authors-request@redhat.com</a><br>
<br>
You can reach the person managing the list at<br>
<a href="mailto:osdc-edu-authors-owner@redhat.com">osdc-edu-authors-owner@redhat.com</a><br>
<br>
When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific<br>
than "Re: Contents of Osdc-edu-authors digest..."<br>
<br>
<br>
Today's Topics:<br>
<br>
1. potential topics: <a href="http://www.ck12.org/flexbook/" target="_blank">http://www.ck12.org/flexbook/</a> (Jason Hibbets)<br>
<br>
<br>
----------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
Message: 1<br>
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:57:06 -0500<br>
From: Jason Hibbets <<a href="mailto:jhibbets@redhat.com">jhibbets@redhat.com</a>><br>
To: <a href="mailto:osdc-edu-authors@redhat.com">osdc-edu-authors@redhat.com</a><br>
Subject: [Osdc-edu-authors] potential topics:<br>
<a href="http://www.ck12.org/flexbook/" target="_blank">http://www.ck12.org/flexbook/</a><br>
Message-ID: <<a href="mailto:4D2F8342.7090100@redhat.com">4D2F8342.7090100@redhat.com</a>><br>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed<br>
<br>
<br>
--<br>
Jason Hibbets, RHCSA :: Twitter: @jhibbets<br>
Project Manager | Brand Communications + Design<br>
Red Hat :: 1801 Varsity Drive :: Raleigh, NC 27606<br>
<br>
<a href="http://opensource.com" target="_blank">http://opensource.com</a> -- Where open source multiplies<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
------------------------------<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
Osdc-edu-authors mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Osdc-edu-authors@redhat.com">Osdc-edu-authors@redhat.com</a><br>
<a href="https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/osdc-edu-authors" target="_blank">https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/osdc-edu-authors</a><br>
<br>
End of Osdc-edu-authors Digest, Vol 12, Issue 8<br>
***********************************************<br>
</blockquote></div><br></div>