Apple Launches iBooks 2 with Interactive Textbooks

[vp719]

I really like the idea but it should absolutely be geared towards universities and college students - 1) they're more likely to have the iOS devices necessary to use iBooks and 2) already are used to paying for their own texts and would jump at this chance for cheaper and more portable options. As far as I know, most public high schools provide the texts for their students and making such a significant transition in learning medium is likely to get stuck in the bureaucracy of district budget planning....

All in all though I think this is a game changer looking 4-5 years down the road.

 

[zafar9999]

I've seen other posts on the forums here saying this will kill the publishers. I disagree, here's why:

My wife paid $300 for a used text book for one of her medical courses. The cost brand new was $350 so she saved a little by buying it this way. She sold it back for $200, which the bookstore will probably re-sell it for up to $300 again. So lets say this book is sold 15 times total. The bookstore makes money but the publisher has still only made their initial profit.

So lets say they make this an ebook. They can sell it for a reduced price, say $200 per copy. They are not out any paper to make it. So now the students can buy it cheaper and keep it forever for reference, as more will keep it since it is cheaper. The company gets a percentage of each sell so now they are making $1,000's off customers where initially they would have only received there cut of that initial $350 new text book.

I think it is a win for the publishers and 'students'. At a cheaper price, students will be able to digitally keep these books forever for reference. Publishers won't have to print as much and will make more money. As robotic as everything has become now, it should not cost that many jobs, although it will a few and it will hurt some of the bookstores.

Overall, I see it is a great advancement in our education system and hope it gets adopted quickly.

I agree with that at the present time, it'll be a win for both publishers and students. But I think that eventually it will kill the publishers. They are going to become an unnecessary middle man. Most medical schools have their own syllabi. They teach and test from them. Books in a lot of college courses are just guides and additional reading material. I think, especially with more capable colleges, professors/departments will be keen to publish their own books with a merged form of their own notes (ppt/home made stuff they teach with) and traditional text books. They can easily distribute these for free and absorb the cost of development from tuition money. With less expenses and more relevant material, it can be a draw to get the best students. Smaller colleges can then pick from a multitude of free topical textbooks made by larger institutions to also teach from. The quality received by students at the smaller/less endowed schools will increase and students won't have to pay (anything) hopefully. Eventually it can lead to a decrease in tuition if they use a fully integrated system. (less necessary servers/printers/paper/time needed to achieve a better result).

This way the publisher is unnecessary and maybe the people will BFAs can work with the school on the textbooks rather than at starbucks

 

[Jmclark]

As a high school sophomore, I hope this ends up working out well. I'd love to not spend ridiculous amounts every year on textbooks once I get to college.

 

[Hakone]

'Back in my day'...

When I was in high school, my classes were so scattered that I had no time to hit my locker so i had to carry 4-5 books in my biga$$ duffel...

I wish we had this capability back then.

 

[myrtlebee]

As a teacher, the last thing I want is my students fooling around on iPads through every class. Most kids would say they were looking at the textbook app and simply be doing something else and paying no attention. The intent is great and the concept novel, but dealing with actual teenagers- there is way too much temptation for distraction with this and anyone who believes otherwise is fooling themselves. I think a better use would be to allow kids to use this at home and on the go instead of lugging heavy textbooks home, by including a free iPad download of the textbook with the purchase of a physical book to be used in the classroom if the teacher sees fit. A teacher could also implement allowing the iPad textbooks in class on occasion for periodic interactive assignments. That said, again, kids should not be using iPads throughout each class. I teach in a private school and already do not allow the use of laptops during my lectures and prohibit the use of cell phones during any class. This is my opinion from first-hand experience.

 

[Jamieserg]

I love the idea of this but the only way to get this to work is cheaper iPads. it's £400 in the uk for the basic model. Make that £200 and this will ensure that they fly off the shelves.

 

[hexx]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Mobile/9A405)

So still no iBooks for Mac OS?

 

[nepalisherpa]

I love the idea of this but the only way to get this to work is cheaper iPads. it's £400 in the uk for the basic model. Make that £200 and this will ensure that they fly off the shelves.

I am sure cheaper iPads are in the future!

 

[madmaxmedia]

This is the Future of Education

They did a great job today- this is absolutely the future of education.

1. Yes iPads are still a bit expensive, but what will a educational iPad model cost within a couple of years? They will slowly get cheap enough that schools (or parents) will be able to fund these. Yes, it will still be a significant investment, but I think it will become exactly that- an investment, not a shiny toy or over-hyped doodad. If parents buy their child an iPad, they will use it for a few years and get a lot of benefit over that time span. For example, 3 years = 36 months = $10 a month (this can be financed.) So I think in the mid to long term, the cost is not an issue.

Durability is an issue, but I think insurance programs can be developed (along with protective cases designed for students.)

2. The other side of cost, is utility value- will students get $10 a month (or more) of value from an iPad? I believe so. I think schools will too.

The textbook thing is really cool, especially with the free Author app. I've helped out my kids' classes on occasion, and would love to put together little study guides, mini books, that sort of thing as hopefully more and more kids are able to own or at least use iPads as educational devices (in the long run, it doesn't have to be an iPad- all of these things apply generally to all tablets.)

The funny thing is that as I was reading the stream about the iBooks 2 and authoring app, the thought came to me- they can do much more than just the books- they can somehow tie things together on a much higher level, organize classes, put things in wider context, track students' progress, etc. After all, the content in the books is only a part of the overall educational experience (I didn't know that the iTunes U app was already being tested.) And bam, the second half of the presentation was about exactly that- addressing how iPads can be used for more than just books.

Doing all this will take time, but the roadmap has been laid out. The combination of iBooks and iTunes U is potentially huge, and it's this combination that makes today's presentation what it is. Big enough that it's really not a matter of IF, it's a matter of WHEN tablets (iPads or otherwise) will be used in schools as Apple laid out today.

 

[marcusj0015]

Is anyone else reading "and students get to keep their copy indefinitely" as "no more reselling used textbooks". In a High School setting where you give the textbooks back sure, in college you spend a ton and then get half or so back at the end of the semester.

I assume the new model for college you spend somewhere between 'higher than the resale value' and full price, and then can't recoup any costs. I have a hard time believing this will lead to savings for students.

What about buying a $15 book vs buying a $100 book and getting $50 back do you not understand? clearly the $15 dollar option is cheaper, AND you don't have to try to sell your book back!

----------

The only thing that I worry about, is the file size, this 2 chapter sample book that they gave away today, weighs in at ~1GB

Do I hear the mumblings of a 128GB iPad? I sure hope so...

 

[JHankwitz]

Originally Posted by JonneyGee
Like many of you, I'm disappointed that no hardware announcements were made.

Really! Combining events lessens all of their impact. Imagine the following...

Uncle Charley dies and is going to be laid out this Saturday. Sister Janet was planning to get maried next month, so we'll combine her cerimony with the funeral. And while we're at it, why not christen baby Mike. As long as we have the church, and the same people would be coming to each anyway, why not take advantage and do it all at once?

I think not!

Each has a special purpose and shouldn't be mixed with the others.

 

[Kaibelf]

As a teacher, the last thing I want is my students fooling around on iPads through every class. Most kids would say they were looking at the textbook app and simply be doing something else and paying no attention. The intent is great and the concept novel, but dealing with actual teenagers- there is way too much temptation for distraction with this and anyone who believes otherwise is fooling themselves. I think a better use would be to allow kids to use this at home and on the go instead of lugging heavy textbooks home, by including a free iPad download of the textbook with the purchase of a physical book to be used in the classroom if the teacher sees fit. A teacher could also implement allowing the iPad textbooks in class on occasion for periodic interactive assignments. That said, again, kids should not be using iPads throughout each class. I teach in a private school and already do not allow the use of laptops during my lectures and prohibit the use of cell phones during any class. This is my opinion from first-hand experience.

That's fine, but if students from an opposing school end up better off because they learned interactively AND they are better at using computers due to day-to-day experience, that's on your shoulders. I was a spectacular book student, but still doodled, daydreamed, and didn't engage 100% of the time because the media was just not compelling.

 

[gmcalpin]

No books filled with… obscene doodles from previous students.
Advantage: Apple.

Man, that's how I left my legacy in high school. How is that a disadvantage?!

 

[myrtlebee]

That's fine, but if students from an opposing school end up better off because they learned interactively AND they are better at using computers due to day-to-day experience, that's on your shoulders. I was a spectacular book student, but still doodled, daydreamed, and didn't engage 100% of the time because the media was just not compelling.

What's on my shoulders? Did you not read? I said that it is my opinion - it should be an available option for those teachers who wish to experiment with it and for limited classroom use and use at home and on the go. However, I think the decision to switch over in the classroom for everyday use is unwise and most teachers would agree with me, I would think. If they wouldn't agree, they would try it and likely find out the first class they use it that kids would be completely distracted and learn squat because they'd be on Facebook, surfing the web, watching videos, gaming, or using iMessage. It is simply not a good idea when dealing with teenagers who are already prone to, as you mention, great distraction. If you think doodling and daydreaming were enough to distract you, try an iPad. Doodling and daydreaming can only distract you so much, an iPad is an immersive world of distraction in a classroom setting. Again, my opinion.

 

[madmaxmedia]

This can eventually (and easily) be addressed through software. For example, the iPads could be locked to the iTunes U app during all school hours.

I think it's the iTunes U app that really drives the overall vision and roadmap here, not iBooks 2 (although iBooks Author is huge IMO too.) It's a lot more than putting just making textbooks available in the iTunes store. If that was all it was, then it would be more or less like the promise of "educational CD-ROMS" from a few years ago. Lesson plans, homework assignments, everything can be tied into iBooks 2 and iTunes U. I believe all these things can reduce a lot of 'friction' and streamline much of the busy work, and potentially allow teachers to do more actual teaching in class. There will be some effort and friction to implement all of this, but I think in the mid to long run the payoff will more than justify it.

None of this stuff is happening immediately, there will be a few steps before iPads or tablets in general are really integrated into teaching. But part of that integration will be stuff like you addressed.

What's on my shoulders? Did you not read? I said that it is my opinion - it should be an available option for those teachers who wish to experiement with it. However, I think that decision is unwise and most teachers would agree with me, I would think, and if they wouldn't they would try it and likely find out the first class they use it that kids would be completely distracted and learn squat because they'd be on Facebook, surfing the web, watching videos, or using iMessage. It is simply not a good idea when dealing with teenagers who are already prone to, as you mention, great distraction. If you think doodling and daydreaming were enough to distract you, try an iPad. Doodling and daydreaming can only distract you so much, an iPad is an immersive world of distraction in a classroom setting. Again, my opinion.

 

[Grover088]

As a teacher, the last thing I want is my students fooling around on iPads through every class. Most kids would say they were looking at the textbook app and simply be doing something else and paying no attention. The intent is great and the concept novel, but dealing with actual teenagers- there is way too much temptation for distraction with this and anyone who believes otherwise is fooling themselves. I think a better use would be to allow kids to use this at home and on the go instead of lugging heavy textbooks home, by including a free iPad download of the textbook with the purchase of a physical book to be used in the classroom if the teacher sees fit. A teacher could also implement allowing the iPad textbooks in class on occasion for periodic interactive assignments. That said, again, kids should not be using iPads throughout each class. I teach in a private school and already do not allow the use of laptops during my lectures and prohibit the use of cell phones during any class. This is my opinion from first-hand experience.

There will obviously need to be a hardware/software update. Economically, maybe a cheaper version of the iPad without all of the current capabilities, and for distractions, one that the school could lock at least.

And with regard to the multiple edition issue in higher education textbooks, this will make it drastically cheaper for the author/publisher, as you go in an make the changes manually, and release it... No reprinting, redistributing.

Textbooks ARE overpriced! At least these multiple edition higher education books. In my third year of undergrad I bought a Constitutional Law book for $200.00. After graduating, I took 2 years off before going to Law School. The same exact book was required for my con law class, so initially I was excited that I already had the book. When I looked at the syllabus, my book was 2 editions old. In three years, the book was re-released twice, and I spent another $200.00 on the same book. I understand that the subject matter changes, and updates are necessary, but with iBook, the cost of updating is significantly diminished for all involved!

 

[myrtlebee]

This can eventually (and easily) be addressed through software. For example, the iPads could be locked to the iTunes U app during all school hours.

This would be a great idea. Actually, that would solve all of my concerns. I think kids would pay more attention to the content on an iPad than in a textbook if the iPad could be locked to the book during class. Great idea.

 

[Gasu E.]

or osx in general.
Why did they have to change a perfectly good os?

.--. .-. --- --. .-. . ... ...

 

[charlituna]

Apple is partnering with McGraw-Hill, Pearson, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on the textbook front, with the three companies currently responsible for 90% of textbook sales in the United States. McGraw-Hill and Pearson are rolling out a handful of introductory titles today, with more coming soon.

To me this is the key point. The key 3 companies have already agreed to Apple's Draconian rules. Even if no one else jumps on, this will be a huge endeavor that could prove very successful even with the ibooks only rule

 

[madmaxmedia]

This would be a great idea. Actually, that would solve all of my concerns. I think kids would pay more attention to the content on an iPad than in a textbook if the iPad could be locked to the book during class. Great idea.

Thanks. But yeah, all of this makes a lot more sense when you take the big picture view, and think of all that can be done with tablets in the classroom, and how the software can be geared for this. Because then its a lot more than just being able to view enhanced textbooks on the iPads we are using now (which is not to downplay the progress Apple has made with publishers, since its the entire overall package we are talking about here.)

It's sort of like chicken and egg scenario, where the more iPads are used in classrooms then the more improvements can be made (at technological level as well as school implementation level), and vice versa. But if you just imagine what is possible in the long run (which you're much more capable of doing than me since you're a teacher!), then I think the benefits to students and teachers will definitely justify it all.

 

[charlituna]

This is awesome! But it still doesn't change the price of high school text books.

No one is really claiming it will. But it will change their usefulness. Also, it could and likely will eliminate workbooks etc.

Consider my sister's Spanish I class. She has a textbook, cost the school perhaps $100 to buy it and with luck they can use it for 4 years. So we'll call that $25 for her. And she has a lab workbook that she writes in that costs perhaps another $20 can as a consumable can't be reused. So that's $15 rather than $45 per student per year (or even semester) and it might also include the audio from the lab tapes and a dictionary so she doesn't have to buy one as required by her current class (and they require a specific one that even on Amazon was $15)

 

[arbitrage]

I sure hope apple is going to come out with some huge capacity ipad because 2 chapters of that free "life" book is almost 1GB. How can you store a bunch of these books on the size of ipads we have today?

 

[charlituna]

Yeah? What about iWikipedia. It's free.

It is also questionably accurate given that anyone can update and edit it.

That said, anyone else notice the freaking out that happened yesterday over the SOPA blackout. Wikipedia had several hash tags on tweeter by kids that thought the size had been shut down and now they might have to actually do their homework instead of just reading the summaries and copy/pasting their homework off the site.

 

[blue22]

speak of the devil...

Yeah? What about iWikipedia. It's free. Plus, considering Wiki is public domain content, there is nothing stopping a person from using all the content from Wikipedia, making it more "interactive", then selling it for a fortune.

Actually, in principal, that has already happened and it's called Wikibot.

 

[smoledman]

I sure hope apple is going to come out with some huge capacity ipad because 2 chapters of that free "life" book is almost 1GB. How can you store a bunch of these books on the size of ipads we have today?

Yes this will drive the sales of the more profitable 32/64GB models.