Digital textbooks distribution models: where do they stand ?
1. Digital textbooks distribution models: where do they stand ?
Systematic digitalization of content is certainly what characterizes the
most today's information based society. In this context, extending this
trend to education by exchanging current textbooks for more dynamic and
interactive ones, just seems like the naturel next step.
Innovations as the
main goal
But switching from paper to electronic devices isn't something that can be
done by the book. Dematerialization implies important changes in the textbook economy and raises concern about associated distribution patterns.
Global overview: where is it gonna go the distance?
Driven by social
and/or economical
pressure
FRANCE
-Global leader regarding open source textbooks
in 2009
-Approximatively 30000 classes have acces to a
digital textbook, displayable on computer.
-In 2009 beginning of a 4 years experimentation
involving 24 schools (6th grade)
-Focus on LMS (Learning Management System),
rather than on the devices
UNITED-STATES
-In 2008, Governor A.Schwarzenegger launched
in California the Digital Textbooks Initiative, a
project that has to evaluate the content of open
source digital textbooks, a device to be used in all
CK-12 schools in the state, ($400 million in savings.)
-Students have seen the price of textbooks skyrocketing in the past few years. Agreements
between universities and publisher should give
the students access to low-cost digital textbooks.
RUSSIA
-A national experimentation has begun in September 2011
-5 differents device's models: Aquarius NE410,
Pocket Book, ECTACO Jetbook color, Plastic
Logic and Entourage Edge. The last one isn't
being ruen by the Ministery of Education.
-Focus on the devices, rather than the textbook's
contents.
SOUTH KOREA
JAPAN
-Only local tests
-Digital textbooks on cell phone, in particular on
Smartphone
-Distribution of 500 Smartphone to students of
"Renaissance Academy"
IRELAND
-In 2009, an local initiative in Caritas College (
Ballyfermot Dublin). Students recieved, from publisher Gill&Macmillian, the digital Book ILiad
Key
Governmental initiatives
Independant initiatives
Both governmental and independant initiatives
Although all models surrounding digital textbooks are still at a testing stage, it appears that some countries,
under very specific socio-economical pressure, have seen it as a necessity to move forward. This results in a
very heterogeneous landscape in terms of projects advancement.
-By topping the ITU 2011 report and the PISA
2009 survey, South Korea established itself one of
the world most advanced country in terms of ICT
use.
-Still struggles with an overgrown, competitionfed private tutoring market that widens the educational gap between high and low incomes.
-Digital textbooks are seen as a way to provide
every student the ability to learn from anywhere
at anytime , making private tutoring less of a necessity.
-Positive results from extended surveys conducted on pilot schools until 2010 have convinced
the government to invest almost $2 billion into
the project by 2015.
FOUQUET C.
LUX L.
PERRIN A.
ROGES A.L.
