DISQUS

Tyler Toone · 8 months ago

This is crazy Darren, just yesterday while was was browsing some districts sites and education sites in California and I came across this site - http://www.opensourcetext.org/

I think it's a phenomenal idea and not only will save money, but like your blog proposes will enhance the fluidity of the textbook content. Nice post Darren

jethrojones · 8 months ago

@ddraper, I believe that many teachers create their own "textbook" anyway. Many create their own handouts and such, and find many of their own resources. In the two schools I have taught at, the new teachers are the only ones who actually use the Language Arts textbooks. The seasoned teachers have all their own stuff that they have created. I think this is a great idea. I have thought for a long time that *time* is what people really need in education. Getting collaboration time for Middle Schools next year is perhaps the best thing the school board can do to ensure a focus on student improvement. Just time to think is a great benefit and will change how teachers teach. Imagine giving them time to create a textbook that perfectly aligns with the Utah State Core Curriculum for their subject. That would be amazing. They wouldn't waste anything, because everything could be aligned to our core standards and everything in the book would have a purpose.

Darren Draper · 8 months ago

Time is the constraining factor, isn't it.

Matt Townsley · 8 months ago

I like your idea about districts allowing their best educators to write new textbooks. Here in Iowa, we're moving towards adapting what is being called the "Iowa Core Curriculum" ( http://www.corecurriculum.iowa.gov/) which includes 21st century skills such as civic literacy, employability skills, financial literacy, health literacy and technology literacy. Many I talk to are asking, "where's the textbook to help me teach this stuff?" The easy answer is "there isn't one." The same can be said for the increased emphasis on authentic learning via problem-based instructional tasks in the new math curriculum. Each educator will be individually "creating" their own documents to increase the rigor and relevance the new legislation is requiring.

Your idea makes sense to me. Increased collaboration time is one step towards making it all possible.

kdumont · 8 months ago

This is what the "Kitchen Table" group is trying to do somewhat, but not sure everyone involved is on the same page yet.

Karen · 8 months ago

California just announced an initiative in this area for high school: http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/12225/

I am working on a project for upper elementary and middle school, hopefully using some of flood of stimulus money.

One this that will be critical is getting leadership beyond ed tech, such as curriculum directors, supes, and boards, to understand and embrace this. Without high level leadership support, it's a tough road. Anyone have a receptive leadership team that might go this direction?

Darren Draper · 8 months ago

We definitely do in the Canyons District. It will likely take us a little
time to get the infrastructure in place that will support widespread open
textbook utilization, but our upper administration is very much in favor of
such direction.

I can't understand why any administration wouldn't want to take the textbook
companies out of the loop.

John Concilus · 7 months ago

Hello,

Interesting conversation....

Our K-12 school district has had teachers and students build over 11,500 of Open Content Curriculum linked to standards....all Creative Commons licensed. They are, actually, hard at this week here:

http://wiki.bssd.org/

One of our staff is regular subscriber to this blog and pointed me in your direction.

wish I could go to the conference Stephen and David are headed to, but alas....I'll be working with new staff in our district that week! ;-)

Regards,

John Concilus
jconcilus@bssd.org