Education is changing! I hope the day comes soon when school districts no longer buy text books. I can see iPad type machines takng the place of text books. The money spent on text books could easily be channeled into buying the less expensive computer/iPad/netbooks. If kids had their own devise then teachers would also need to be up-to-date on technology. AND that is the rub!

I fear many of the teachers may not learn unless districts are willing to teach them how to use the materials. Many districts are stuck in just buying "programs" instead of training teachers in the fundimentals of educational philosophy and looking beyond the end of the year TESTS. Then we also have to develop the software for teachers. To eliminate text books the companies could just transfer to digital format. But the fortunes earned by companies will effect the development of a textbook free educational environment. Hopefully, the changing world will have a new way to look at schools.

So what is the future? Yes, iPad type hardware is needed. Yes, finances can be saved with e-books. But who is going to produce them and for which platform? Epub format is the format preferred and suggested for such an endeavor. Yes, Kindle has it's own mobi format. AND Apple is offering a new format built around epub. The trick here is to get the world "to just get along". It would be best to have ebook available for ALL devices that can be used in the classroom, ipod touch, iphone, Kindle Fire, Nook, a computer, and the iPad 2-3. Then we will not only save money but allow students to connect and learn on whichever device they wish. That would finally make the "bring your own" concept economically viable. Districts could stop spending money on books, machines, and IT. Big bucks!