Conclusion:
Future Implications of Digital Textbooks
The sooner digital textbooks are adopted by schools and institutions, the sooner teachers and students can leverage its benefits. Digital textbooks have already influenced higher institutions with the satisfaction of lower costs, and will continue to impact K-12 schools with the rise of blended and hybrid models. Some of the active features instructors use digital textbooks include:
- Ability to personalize document/book with notes and highlights
- Ability for assessment opportunities
- Embedded links to real-time data and supporting data
- Explore concepts through games, simulations, or animations
- Access videos, audio, podcasts, video conferences, etc.
- Create your own content within the document/book
These features continue to influence the design of digital textbooks and serve as a rationale to use in the classroom. Further, the research suggests that users benefit from digital textbooks by increased motivation, deep learning, and accessibility (cost). With the movement of digital textbooks developing in K-12 classrooms, we pose the question:
Further readings:
1) What happens when all textbooks are (only) digital? Ask the Koreans!-blog
2) Accessible Digital Textbooks for All Initiative-Making digital textbooks accessible, affordable and available for all children. UNICEF
1) What happens when all textbooks are (only) digital? Ask the Koreans!-blog
2) Accessible Digital Textbooks for All Initiative-Making digital textbooks accessible, affordable and available for all children. UNICEF