California To Move To Online Textbooks 468
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.'"
Re:OLPC? (Score:5, Funny)
Of course not - teachers will merely go to these online aides and hit the "Print" button.
What can go wrong?
Re:OLPC? (Score:1, Funny)
Or OSPC.
(one Skynet per child)
The Eyes Have it (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!!
Am I the only one ... (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!
Re:No its not... (Score:3, 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.
LOLBooks!!!! (Score:3, Funny)
I cann haz siense?
Re:When I was a kid.... (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.
Re:OLPC? (Score:3, Funny)
Not to mention, every time a schoolchild uses the excuse "the dog ate my netbook"...that'll cost the state another $250 or so.
Re:OLPC? (Score:3, Funny)
More importantly, what about a UPS?
California: land of the electronic textbook AND rolling blackouts.