Publisher Touts 20-Point Boost in Student Performance with Textbooks for iPad

[Drunken Master]

Serious book readers tend to go with a kindle or an iPad or some other form of digital device.

I see serious book consumers using Kindle and iPad but serious book readers? People who actually enjoy the experience, the smell of the book, turning the pages, finding (or making) beautiful bookmarks, maybe putting them on a shelf somewhere?

No, serious book readers still read real books.

 

[dethmaShine]

You're still missing my point. Not every book (textbook or otherwise) will be brought to life with an iBook. Some textbooks will remain textbooks - just maybe be electronic. No bells and whistles. And the majority of plays, novels, technical papers, etc will remain as texts. Not interactive. So again - my point is that it's all fine and dandy - to a point. But it can become a problem when children are raised expecting a level of interactivity and then are faced with literature which does not conform to their preconceived and experiential "norm."

I'm sorry - if you fail to see this after me explaining it (twice) - then I can't make it clearer.

You know people grow and learn. They will understand. Also I do believe that interactivity is not for every book but even bachelor level science text books or master level courses could be made much more easier to understand by using animations. For eg understanding convolution using animation is so helpful. I have seen that people passing out with great bachelors sometimes miss out on these things. But whatever.

These things take time and this is the model for the future. 5 years down the line the changes will be clear. This is the right step in the right direction.

 

[soco]

I see serious book consumers using Kindle and iPad but serious book readers? People who actually enjoy the experience, the smell of the book, turning the pages, finding (or making) beautiful bookmarks, maybe putting them on a shelf somewhere?

No, serious book readers still read real books.

Ugh, come on. You can't be serious. So as a serious book reader myself, you're telling me I'm doing it wrong, or you're just saying I'm not really a serious book reader.

Please.

 

[JHankwitz]

as a current engineering student i have to say that when i sit in a lecture theater and look at the small number of people using computers, almost all of them will constantly be doing other tasks such as facebook and chatting.

So, what you're saying is that those that choose to not focus on what's important will not succeed. Those that do choose to focus will succeed. This is the way all of life operates. We all have choices to make, and those that want to succeed can make the proper choices to succeed. Those that do not want to succeed can make choices preventing success.

Sounds like normal life to me. You can lead a hourse to water... It has and makes the choice to either drink it or take a whiz in it.

 

[samcraig]

You know people grow and learn. They will understand. Also I do believe that interactivity is not for every book but even bachelor level science text books or master level courses could be made much more easier to understand by using animations. For eg understanding convolution using animation is so helpful. I have seen that people passing out with great bachelors sometimes miss out on these things. But whatever.

These things take time and this is the model for the future. 5 years down the line the changes will be clear. This is the right step in the right direction.

I think for college and even high school levels - it's fantastic.

But raising kids on iPads is not my idea of progress. Sorry - but it isn't. I don't want my child to have their learning experience exclusive to the iPad (or computer) for that matter. I am not resistant to technology at all. I just don't think elementary school kids (for example) should be tethered to devices which both provide great stimulus and access to wonderful resources but also pander to them so they become dependent on that form of learning.

 

[JHankwitz]

I see serious book consumers using Kindle and iPad but serious book readers? People who actually enjoy the experience, the smell of the book, turning the pages, finding (or making) beautiful bookmarks, maybe putting them on a shelf somewhere?

No, serious book readers still read real books.

It depends on the book. I have "Atlas Shrugged" in hard cover, soft cover, on my iPhone, and audio. I always go to the hard cover to re-read it. All the others just lack panache.

My iPhone is great for reading instruction manuals and news items. Audio is OK for reading adventures or novels. I hate paperbacks.

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I think for college and even high school levels - it's fantastic.

I just don't think elementary school kids (for example) should be tethered to devices which both provide great stimulus and access to wonderful resources but also pander to them so they become dependent on that form of learning.

Like dependency on paper books over the past many centuries?

 

[dethmaShine]

I think for college and even high school levels - it's fantastic.

But raising kids on iPads is not my idea of progress. Sorry - but it isn't. I don't want my child to have their learning experience exclusive to the iPad (or computer) for that matter. I am not resistant to technology at all. I just don't think elementary school kids (for example) should be tethered to devices which both provide great stimulus and access to wonderful resources but also pander to them so they become dependent on that form of learning.

See I totally agree with your opinion. I don't want my kids to base all their studies on the iPad. It could be unergonomic and may anti-social in some circumstances. But definitely, they will be open to it and can do all they want.

My little daughter watches cartoons for like an hour a day and she is in her pretty fancy world. Having such intimate experience on the iPad is not going to change much interns of living in the fancy world but its definitely going to make her life better as I understand it. Pictorial and animated context is mostly always better than text and its great to have Apple accomplish this.

I myself am planning to convert my thesis on my PhD. topic in Machine Learning (this is not the topic) and publish it with great content.

I think kids will grow up; understand. It's the cycle of life. This may be a disruption to some but its essential to understand that study is itself a distribution to 90% of the kids. This is going to get that % down in a matter of years.

 

[Ryth]

This is a great article.

I was just on another forum where the APS (Arlington Public Schools in VA) were being lambasted for taking a trip out to Apple earlier this Jan to talk about exactly this program and everyone was saying it was a waste of taxpayer money and that there is no anecdotal evidence that iPads nor technology increase or help learning.

Thank you HMH...had to post the link and quotes from it.

 

[artvandelayIII]

it will never be as boring or dry as a hardbound book. so new norm will always be better than old norm.

If you find text "boring" and "dry", that's a failure of your imagination. You don't want to read, you want to be entertained.

 

[Ryth]

I think for college and even high school levels - it's fantastic.

But raising kids on iPads is not my idea of progress. Sorry - but it isn't. I don't want my child to have their learning experience exclusive to the iPad (or computer) for that matter. I am not resistant to technology at all. I just don't think elementary school kids (for example) should be tethered to devices which both provide great stimulus and access to wonderful resources but also pander to them so they become dependent on that form of learning.

It's part of the education process along with socialization. What is the difference if they are in class and have their head in a book for quiet time of 30 mins or 30 mins on an iPad?

Textbooks are antiquated. The iPad replaces the textbook. It doesn't replace the classroom experience and socialization with classmates.

You need to separate the two entities.

 

[samcraig]

It depends on the book. I have "Atlas Shrugged" in hard cover, soft cover, on my iPhone, and audio. I always go to the hard cover to re-read it. All the others just lack panache.

My iPhone is great for reading instruction manuals and news items. Audio is OK for reading adventures or novels. I hate paperbacks.

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Like dependency on paper books over the past many centuries?

Yes - it's a shame when a student has to use their imagination instead of having everything literally shown to them. The horror.

 

[Ryth]

If you find text "boring" and "dry", that's a failure of your imagination. You don't want to read, you want to be entertained.

No...people want to be engaged in their learning...drastic difference there chief.

Reading about X subject, especially subjects that might need explanation visually, is vastly different then reading about X subject on an iPad and then seeing some sort of real world application of it visual or a diagram/chart/etc of it being explained...whether its math, science, chemistry, etc.

You are narrow minded if you think people want to be entertained...MANY people learn and retain knowledge at a better %/rate visually then by just reading.

 

[samcraig]

It's part of the education process along with socialization. What is the difference if they are in class and have their head in a book for quiet time of 30 mins or 30 mins on an iPad?

Textbooks are antiquated. The iPad replaces the textbook. It doesn't replace the classroom experience and socialization with classmates.

You need to separate the two entities.

Gateway drug so to speak.

Do you have young kids or are even near young kids? They are more anti-social and are constantly using their ipod touches/ipads instead of interacting with people. And heaven forbid you try and take it away or talk to them/engage them in conversation.

Again - I'm not against technology. I just think it's a TOOL - not the answer to learning in total.

 

[threesixty360]

This isnt a surprise..

My main reason for getting the ipad 1 over a year or so ago was reading text books! As a software developer I just couldnt hack carrying those huge text books around. I had tons of books on my shelf (asp.net mvc, pro c# etc.. ) that are all 500 pages long. When I realised I could carry 20 books on ipad and read them on the train ... wow.. that was it, sold!

Initially, I just thought that Apple were going to double the size of an ipod touch (i.e. 7 inch) and that would be fine for the new ipad. But when I realised I could read books and magazine in the same layout as they appear in real life, without scrolling around either.. then I realised Apple had really thought about this.

Thats why I laugh at the Blackberry Playbook and the Kindle.. Apple new what this thing is good at all along. I dont even think I would have the job I have now if it wasnt for being able to study text books on the ipad. This whole ibooks thing is a game changer, I just dont think many of the tech forums realise how important it is that the ipad is used in this way.

(and it wont just be ipads, eventually I'll bet that the no.1 use for tablets worldwide will be for reading and studying. Its perfect for it).

 

[artvandelayIII]

I disagree. I think the "Attention Deficit" problem will go away for many, less-driven individuals who just can't stay interested in a book.

Anyone who can't stay "interested" in a book without animations or sounds or flashy effects isn't reading. They're being entertained.

How many people read physical books these days outside of school? Serious book readers tend to go with a kindle or an iPad or some other form of digital device. Schools are many years behind the curve. I really could have used this when I was in school, of that I am certain.

Yeah, digital = better. Let's take of the few remaining activities that doesn't involve staring slack-jawed at a screen and "enhance" it with shiny new digital technology. Anybody who doesn't embrace that must be a dinosaur and can't possibly be "serious" about the activity of reading. You're completely and totally full of crap.

 

[Drunken Master]

Ugh, come on. You can't be serious. So as a serious book reader myself, you're telling me I'm doing it wrong, or you're just saying I'm not really a serious book reader.

Please.

Hey, it's personal preference, but I can't read on a Kindle. It just doesn't feel like a book. As mentioned above, e-readers are great for short stories, text books, manuals, etc.

Anecdotal example: My girlfriend is trying to improve her English so she asked me for a list of books. She chose The Hobbit first and bought the Kindle version. I made it about two pages before I put it down. She can read it if she likes, but it felt wrong to me.

 

[FloatingBones]

Everyone is free to set the price for their book as they wish, I don't see how Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) can think they'll be able to compete in the new iPad textbook environment if they price their book(s) at $59.99. I hope that $14.99 becomes the new standard price -- publishers will be aided by selling more new books every semester because schools won't be keeping books that have been used for years by prior classes/students.

Currently, high schools buy books approximately every 5 years. With e-books, a copy will be bought for every student. Costs of manufacturing and stocking the book are eliminated.

 

[artvandelayIII]

This is a game changer. Think about constant updates and or corrections. No longer will you have books that are years old.

Nor will you have access to information that has been deemed "outdated" or perhaps which someone in a position of authority wants to change. No more pesky old books sitting around as an inconvenient permanant record -- now facts can be changed on the fly, right on your device!

 

[hkenneth]

I am proud that I am a Shanghainese. We are the best of the world! LOL even without iPad.

 

[artvandelayIII]

Gateway drug so to speak.

Do you have young kids or are even near young kids? They are more anti-social and are constantly using their ipod touches/ipads instead of interacting with people. And heaven forbid you try and take it away or talk to them/engage them in conversation.

Again - I'm not against technology. I just think it's a TOOL - not the answer to learning in total.

Couldn't agree with you more. People here love to rail about how "boring" books are, but that is PRECISELY why they're better for sustained, focused activity. Nothing is going to pop up to demand your attention on a page of a real book. You can't play a game on it, you can't message your friends on it. It is quite deliberately a single-use object that is utterly incapable of distracting you from doing the reading you're supposed to be doing.

Expecting anyone to focus on reading by using as a medium a full-bore distraction machine like an iPad is just folly.

 

[TMay]

Couldn't agree with you more. People here love to rail about how "boring" books are, but that is PRECISELY why they're better for sustained, focused activity. Nothing is going to pop up to demand your attention on a page of a real book. You can't play a game on it, you can't message your friends on it. It is quite deliberately a single-use object that is utterly incapable of distracting you from doing the reading you're supposed to be doing.

Expecting anyone to focus on reading by using as a medium a full-bore distraction machine like an iPad is just folly.

I believe that detractors of the iPad are more concerned with maintaining the status quo at the level that they were taught at than interest in moving to more efficient teaching.

My mom, who passed away a short time ago at 90, taught for a few years in a one room school house in Minnesota during the depression. I don't expect any to want to move back to that educational experience.

She served as a cadet nurse during the war when penicillin was in so short a supply that it was recycled from urine. Now people ask their doctors for penicillin (or equivalents) who rightly refuse to give it to them because it ultimately is becomng ineffective because of over prescription.

Later, she taught learning disabled kids, and one of her favorite reading tools for boys and even girls were comic books. Oh the entertainment value!!

She did what was necessary and effective and fought hard for her students to mainstream.

She wasn't dogmatic about teaching tools, yet some of you here with no teaching experience seem to be quite dogmatic about future educational tools.

Perhaps you all are wrong.

 

[owensd]

Gateway drug so to speak.

Do you have young kids or are even near young kids? They are more anti-social and are constantly using their ipod touches/ipads instead of interacting with people. And heaven forbid you try and take it away or talk to them/engage them in conversation.

Again - I'm not against technology. I just think it's a TOOL - not the answer to learning in total.

And the science book is the "gateway drug" to not going outside and exploring the flora? Don't you think you're being a bit over dramatic?

I have young kids. They play with other young kids and they read books and they look at pictures and play games, both together and alone, on our iPad. You are merging so many various social problems and lumping them together under the guise of digitalization being the root of the problem.

People here are saying the iPad is tool, a replacement for the textbook, not as a replacement for the educational process. For some reason, you seem to be inferring that people here are saying that the iPad is the replacement for education.

 

[samcraig]

She wasn't dogmatic about teaching tools, yet some of you here with no teaching experience seem to be quite dogmatic about future educational tools.

Perhaps you all are wrong.

I think it's presumptuous to state that some of us don't have teaching experience. Truth is - you have no idea what experience we do or don't have.

 

[nemaslov]

Understand the comments about serious book readers and lovers wanting the printed piece showing the books on shelves and so on. Agreed. But how many want to keep or show off all of the school textbooks after the class is over? They recycle or re sell them. Most of the time they don't keep for posterity.

 

[samcraig]

And the science book is the "gateway drug" to not going outside and exploring the flora? Don't you think you're being a bit over dramatic?

I have young kids. They play with other young kids and they read books and they look at pictures and play games, both together and alone, on our iPad. You are merging so many various social problems and lumping them together under the guise of digitalization being the root of the problem.

People here are saying the iPad is tool, a replacement for the textbook, not as a replacement for the educational process. For some reason, you seem to be inferring that people here are saying that the iPad is the replacement for education.

Over dramatic? No. Have you read all my posts? I'm all for technology. I also stated it's a tool. And just ONE tool. There are, however, people who want to immediately imagine a world without the printed page. Why have regular books when everything can be on the iPad now in color, swirling images, video, links, etc.

No... perhaps I'm coming off anti-technology but nothing can be further from the truth. And quite realistically - it's going to be years before full course loads exist for students. It will take several years for enough books to be made available where the iPad becomes the "major" tool of choice for educators. Right now and for the next few years at least it will be dabbling.