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California To Move To Online Textbooks

Posted by timothy on from the let's-keep-some-things-written-down-though dept.

Hugh Pickens writes "Last year California spent $350m on textbooks so facing a state budget shortfall of $24.3 billion, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has unveiled a plan to save money by phasing out 'antiquated, heavy, expensive textbooks' in favor of internet aids. Schwarzenegger believes internet activities such as Facebook, Twitter and downloading to iPods show that young people are the first to adopt new online technologies and that the internet is the best way to learn in classrooms so from the beginning of the school year in August, math and science students in California's high schools will have access to online texts that have passed an academic standards review. 'It's nonsensical — and expensive — to look to traditional hard-bound books when information today is so readily available in electronic form,' writes Schwarzenegger. 'As the music and newspaper industries will attest, those who adapt quickly to changing consumer and business demands will thrive in our increasingly digital society and worldwide economy. Digital textbooks can help us achieve those goals and ensure that California's students continue to thrive in the global marketplace.'"

9 of 468 comments (clear)

  1. Re:OLPC? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Of course not - teachers will merely go to these online aides and hit the "Print" button.

    What can go wrong?

  2. Re:OLPC? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Or OSPC.

    (one Skynet per child)

  3. The Eyes Have it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    And with National Healthcare looming on the horizon, the kids will be able to get new prescriptions for the glasses that they'll need every year!!

  4. Am I the only one ... by krou · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... who find is very suspicious that a robot from the future that pretended to be our friend is now pushing through legislation to increase our dependence on machines and technology?

    It's a trap!

    --
    'If Christ had tweeted the sermon on the mount, it might have lasted until nightfall.' - John Perry Barlow
  5. Re:No its not... by jbolden · · Score: 2, Funny

    Spare notebooks. There is no reason to have a 1-1 ratio and not a 1.1-1 ratio. As for things like internet outage, the students can have local data and/or the school can have a redundant internet.

  6. LOLBooks!!!! by frank_adrian314159 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I cann haz siense?

    --
    That is all.
  7. Re:When I was a kid.... by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's right. I still use my Vic-20 with 300baud modem to dial up the magicians tower BBS. I'm too old to get into all those tubes and interwebs on the google.


    YOU HAVE A VIC 20? WOW. I ENVY YOU,
    SITTING HERE TYPING AWAY ON MY
    COMMODORE PET.

    --
    My blog
  8. Re:OLPC? by cayenne8 · · Score: 2, Funny
    "And the schools will charge the printing costs to the California Government, costing $360 million. Problem solved."

    Not to mention, every time a schoolchild uses the excuse "the dog ate my netbook"...that'll cost the state another $250 or so.

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  9. Re:OLPC? by rho · · Score: 2, Funny

    More importantly, what about a UPS?

    California: land of the electronic textbook AND rolling blackouts.

    --
    Potato chips are a by-yourself food.