Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ Education publisher Pearson to phase out print textbooks

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community

Pundits have been platituding over the last few days in response to Pearson's announcement that it will phase out print-based textbooks. To me, the only surprise about this announcement is that it took so long to make it. In any event, it is accompanied by the usual less-than-forthright statements: that it will stave students money, that it will be more convenient, that it will lead to better learning, etc. In fact, what we'll see are higher costs and a market that shifts from ownership (and sharing and reselling) to subscriptions and licensing. And as Bill Rosenblatt says, "the move to digital-first doesn't really complete the digital transition of higher ed content: it's still based on units called 'textbooks,' no matter how they are delivered." More from Bloomberg, the Guardian, CBS News, EdScoop, Copyright & Technology, Inside Higher Ed, Slashdot. Next up: Alexa reads textbooks to you, from Pearson.

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

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Last Updated: Dec 22, 2024 7:20 p.m.

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