March 9, 2005
Wiki Text Book
incorporated subversion » WikiTextbook
Funny that you mention this. I just described such a proposal to my online K-12 Technology Integration class in a what-if scenario this week. What if, all the math teachers and a few math professors got together with a Wiki and decided to build their own text that meets state standards, etc.? With states (here in the U.S.) so strapped for cash, what would the teachers choose: the wiki they themselves created for free or, the $5 million a year shiny textbooks from the publishers? Obviously, this is not a new idea but, it was an interesting discussion for teachers who have not thought about this possibility before.
This will happen. We will know it's a threat when lobbyists begin to seek laws to make use of self-created materials difficult or impossible. It is already a struggle on the local level where I live to even allow the teacher to make any decision to use books other than the formally approved standard book. We will see what wins: state economics or publishing interests. I think Will is blogging on a related theme too.
Posted by Rovy at March 9, 2005 9:52 AM
Comments
Thansk for the link & thoughts, I've been playing with this kinda idea for years now (started with some every bizarre Word doc on the network stuff) and I reckon there's a lot that can happen here, there's also a lot that doesn't too tho... wikis are strange things!
Cheers, James
Posted by: James Farmer at March 9, 2005 7:26 PM
The site could easily be adapted to incorporate the US education system, ie change A level to 16-18 year ols etc. Would there be interest from US teachers?
Posted by: Steve Margetts at March 12, 2005 11:39 AM