James Brower, in his TED talk, “Never Mind Textbooks”
encourages schools to ditch the books in favor of the Internet and computers, which offer a more robust, interactive type of learning. Cite two statements from this video that you either agree or disagree with. Explain.
One statement that James Brower made in his TED Talk was "The physical book is dead in 5 years." I found this interesting as this TED Talk was created 14 years ago. I do believe that textbooks and curriculum have changed over the years, the physical books has not went away. Curriculums have evolved into being more hands on materials incorporating online resources. Teachers still use physical books in the classroom, along with other appropriate online tools to assist in their lesson delivery. Curriculums are "storyboarded". Curriculum writers put content in a specific order for a reason. We as teachers know that using only the curriculum as our tool is not beneficial. Using outside resources and tools make our lessons rich and engaging.
ReplyDeleteI agree with his statement about "Why do you text at the end of learning instead of the middle and beginning and all the time." Educators are assessing informally all the time. Our lessons are structured about formative assessments. Although summative assessment are still incorporated, we must constantly assess our students to help drive our lessons.
I disagree with the statement Brower made saying "The physical textbook is dead in 5 years. "I think textbooks will always be around. I know several people that prefer a physical book- even if it is for leisure reading. It is interesting to note that this TED was created 14 years ago. I'm curious if any states/districts have been without a textbook for 9 years.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the need to create material that is relevant to the age that you are teaching. This was discussed with creating a simulated coral reef. The Field Museum was looking for a way to engage 12 year olds with living species. Its important to make it relevant to how 12 year olds learn.
Agree: There are times where learning is not relevant to our students and it’s our job to make learning relevant to the age of our students. In the video, the guy shared an idea of how we can make learning relevant and that was creating an online simulation of coral reef.
ReplyDeleteDisagree: “The physical textbook is dead in 5 years” I think the textbooks will be always around for people who prefer the physical book. Not all people like online books. I would rather have a physical book. It might be more difficult to find a physical textbook, but they will still be around.
James Brower, in his TED talk, “Never Mind Textbooks”
ReplyDeleteencourages schools to ditch the books in favor of the Internet and computers, which offer a more robust, interactive type of learning. Cite two statements from this video that you either agree or disagree with. Explain.
The two statements that I have an opinion about:
1). 'Textbooks will be dead in 5 years.'
I disagree with this. There is the obvious reason why of this video was made 15 years ago, but also because we are meeting with textbook vendors tomorrow. Textbooks still provide a road map for teachers and curricula. We can follow it and and stops along the way, but they still provide a backbone for what we will be learning.
2). 'Textbooks are storyboarded.'
I agree with this statement. Textbook are static. They don't change after you buy them. What they stress is a decision made by the publishing company. If there are changes that happen in society, like the George Floyd protests and the Black Lives Matter movement, it is up to teachers to figure out new resources that can help our students answer why questions. Yes, some students can and will do this on their own, but it is still up to us as educators to help the students ask the right 'why' questions.
"The internet is the place of unintended consequences." I think that this is so true- with the rise of AI we see a new layer of this- there are so many new repercussions from the tools we've created. We are navigating new waters and more and more consequences daily with the internet and all that exists.
ReplyDelete"This is you figuring out which experts you trust.(referencing a computer)" With so many sources to go to for information we can hear so many more diverse perspectives and we have to be more critical of their perspectives and potential underlying agenda, but we can also lean into sources that support our own biases. When we were just using single sources, textbooks were just accepted as what is true and correct. Now teachers have to focus more energy on teaching students how to navigate and evaluate multiple sources for their credibility and encourage students to be critical thinkers.
Statement 1: "The physical book is dead" — I disagree. Physical, hands-on books are still important for a variety of reasons, including sensory engagement, developing fine motor skills, and helping students focus without screen distractions.
ReplyDeleteStatement 2: "The internet is the place of unintended consequences" — I agree. With AI and other new technologies, we need to navigate these tools cautiously and thoughtfully, helping students learn how to use them responsibly and safely.
1. “The Internet provides more up-to-date and interactive information than textbooks.”
ReplyDeleteI agree with this idea because textbooks can become outdated very quickly, especially in subjects like science or current events. The Internet allows students to access real-time information, videos, and interactive tools that make learning more fun. For example, instead of just reading about a concept, students can watch demonstrations or explore simulations, which can improve their understanding and keep them more interested.
2. “Textbooks limit learning, while technology opens up endless possibilities.”
While I understand Brower’s point, I don’t fully agree that books limit learning. Textbooks provide structure which can be especially helpful for students who need guidance. Technology can improve learning, but without structure, students may become distracted or overwhelmed by too much information. I think the best approach is a balanced curriculum —using both textbooks and technology together to support different learning needs.
Textbooks were designed when you didn’t have access to information and pictures. This is an accurate statement.
ReplyDelete$6.8 Billion a year are spent on textbook. This could be used in SO many other ways!
All schools buy textbooks, no teacher is required to use them. This caught my attention because I have had a handful of administrators and I have heard them all say we can use textbooks as a guide. That is a lot of money to spend on a ‘guide’.
One statement I agree with is: “Textbooks alone cannot provide the depth, immediacy, and interactivity that the Internet and digital tools offer.” I completely agree because students learn best when they can explore information in multiple formats such as videos, primary sources, and interactive websites, rather than just reading static text. Digital tools allow students to research, analyze, and create, which better prepares them for real-world problem-solving.
ReplyDeleteA statement I question is: “We should completely abandon textbooks in favor of online sources.” I disagree with this absolute position because not all online information is reliable. Well-designed textbooks still provide structured, curated content that helps students build foundational knowledge. A balance of textbooks and digital resources gives students the best of both worlds and teaches them how to evaluate information responsibly.
I think like anything in life, we need a good balance. Abandoning textbooks altogether I dont agree with just as relying only on some of the modern day resources I dont believe in as well. I think context matters and our ability to adjust to each classroom and strength of each class is important. I also think giving students multiple tools to fit their diverse needs is huge with this method of a balance of all the tools in our toolbox.
"The textbook is dead" I feel that there is a time and a place for textbooks. I find myself utilizing outside resources more and more each year, but there are times when a good 'ol textbook is the best approach. I feel that textbook as lots some of it's luster and on-line components are more prevalent now, but the textbook will never truly die.
ReplyDelete"The internet is a place of unintended consequences" There are so many great things on the internet and technology has helped to bring learning to life. I agree that there are unintended consequences with the internet, both good and bad. You may be able to captivate a student that was not interested in learning. We also can not deny that the internet can also have negative consequences as well, with so many ways for students to get in troubling situations.
James Brower, in his TED talk, “Never Mind Textbooks”
ReplyDeleteencourages schools to ditch the books in favor of the Internet and computers, which offer a more robust, interactive type of learning. Cite two statements from this video that you either agree or disagree with. Explain.
I statement from this video that I disagree with is, "The physical book is dead in 5 years." Even though digital digital technology has become more common, there is still demand for physical books. In fact, our district uses digital textbooks in many of our classrooms, but many of our teacher and students would prefer to go back to physical textbooks. My son's math class uses a digital textbook. However, the teacher provides a paper handout and practice handout for each lesson. When it comes to books, students and teachers should decide what format matches their leaning preference. When it comes to other books, such as books for leisure, some people still prefer to still hold a physical book in their hands even if it costs more. This is why the physical book will never die, as there will continue to be a market for physical books.
A statement from the video that I also agree with is that, one of the things that the textbooks did was that it disrupted the path between careers and academia. I do feel like teachers tend to teach their content without making connections to careers. Students need to see how content connects to careers. As a counselor, I feel students need more career exposure so they feel more certain of their career direction post high school. Knowing careers that link to academic subject that interest them or they are good at will help them make career decisions or at least guide their career exploration. This is why teachers or textbooks need to do a better job in connecting content to careers.
AGREE with reducing the number of textbooks used each day, year, etc. I appreciate the cost savings - half a Billion dollars is a crazy amount of money, and to learn that $6.8 Billion is spent in USA. I also do agree that I do not use a textbook daily, nor do I have one-to-one copies for each of my 110 students. I have a classroom set of about 35, and I use them for about 4 units during our school year. We are able to supplement with novels throughout the year, and yes, we do use material found and created online.
ReplyDeleteDISAGREE with the quote of Nicolas Negroponte “The physical book is dead in 5 years.” at 1:08 in the video. I do not think either the physical book or the textbook are going away completely. I actually have students who are falling in love with the tactile nature of reading: holding the hardcover, smelling the ink, hearing the soft whisper of the turning pages.
Textbooks do offer a collection of information. For some curriculums, there is a roadmap from which to teach and build. For me and my partners, our textbook serves as an anthology for our autobiography and memoir unit as well as our short story unit.