Digital textbooks

In 2009, then California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that he would replace paper textbooks for math and science with digital textbooks. He called his state a leader in digital textbooks, saying, “California is home to Silicon Valley and the leader of technology and innovation.” Behind the decision was California`s huge fiscal deficit that could barely cover the textbook budget of 350 million dollars.

Back then, the digital textbook was just a gadget that could download the contents of a regular textbook. With the emergence of tablet PCs, however, the device is opening a new chapter in education. Apple’s iBooks2, which was introduced Thursday, features an interactive textbook. The digital textbook combines good contents and the advantages of a tablet PC and draws student attention with colorful pictures and videos. As textbook publishers frequently update them, students can learn the latest information.

Digital textbooks might work in the U.S. because textbooks are inexorably expensive. Even an elementary school textbook costs more than 100 dollars. State governments ask schools to reuse textbooks. Students are supposed to use textbooks only at school and keep them clean. They can neither write their names on them nor write on them. In addition, they have to return them to school when the semester ends. Certain students study with materials that teachers provide instead of textbooks. Given this, iBooks2, which costs just 14.99 dollars per book, is likely to be an attractive option.

Korea need not follow the U.S. example, however. From this year, textbook makers can set prices on their own on a few electives. A price increase is cause for concern to a certain extent, but Korean textbooks are still relatively cheap. Paper books encourage students to read. With digital textbooks, however, they could instead surf the Internet or play games in class. Moreover, paper books lead students to think. If computers allow students to search everything, they cannot be led to think, which could result in regression of knowledge.

Editorial Writer Chung Sung-hee (shchung@donga.com)