Podcast #2 “Digital Textbooks”
Posted by celticmapleleaf on 08/16/2009
8/16/2009 Podcast #2 “Digital Textbooks” (click here)
Let’s talk about how the recent development by California in approving some online digital textbooks is affecting the development of online resources for teachers in general.
FREE Resources for Teachers:
VOCABULARY.COM -This is a free site that helps to develop vocabulary for SAT/ACT and specific subjects at the secondary level.
CREATESPACE -This service allows you to create and collaborate in order to sell your original material. It’s associated with Amazon and includes free publishing tools and even tracks your sales for you.
SCRIBD -This allows users to create and share documents online (in all kinds of formats). It also allows the user to search materials that have already been created and are available to be shared.
GOOGLE BOOKS -This is another free Google application that allows users to download many books for free and even has an iPhone app available.
Websites for Teachers:
DIGITAL HISTORY -from their website “This Web site was designed and developed to support the teaching of American History in K-12 schools and colleges and is supported by the Department of History and the College of Education at the University of Houston.”
NORTH CAROLINA DIGITAL HISTORY -This is a great example of a state-specific online textbook. It has lots of multimedia resources and links available.
CALIFORNIA LEARNING RESOURCE NETWORK -If you’d like to see what the state of California has approved in their digital textbook this is the link for you.
COLLEGE WRITING.INFO -This site has been set up by the University of Minnesota and has lots of resources on writing and preparing students for college writing.
CK-12 FLEXBOOKS -This site allows users to customize books and chapters in math and science only. It’s free and really innovative.
BEYOND TEXTBOOKS -This is a Colorado site set up to encourage collaboration and creation of digital resources for the classroom.
CALIFORNIA DIGITAL TEXTBOOK INITIATIVE REPORT -This link sends you to the .pdf download of the report.
Articles Used to Research the “Digital Textbooks” Podcast:
June 1, 2005 Study: These factors retard digital teaching
May 21, 2009 California considers open digital textbooks
July 27, 2009 The Rise of Digital Textbooks
August 8, 2009 In a Digital Future, Textbooks Are History
August 11, 2009 College e-textbooks go to class in iPhones
