Why I hate Textbooks

[Roboka]

I think we can all relate to having to carry large piles of books that won't even fit in our backpacks. But this is just too much.

For almost every class there is at least 2 things to carry.

Science: Science book, Notebook, Agenda, 8 pocket folder (which is currently busted due to huge amounts of papers)

Social Studies: Social Studies book (biggest book of them all with an outstanding record of 841 pages) Notebook, Agenda, 8 pocket folder

Luckily 3rd and 4th only require you to bring your 8 pocket and Agenda, but usually I just carry all of the other supplies because the lockers are another huge walk and are a huge mess.

5th period: Enrichment folder, Agenda, 8 pocket folder, and all of my 6th and 7th period books because otherwise I'll be late for lunch.

6th period: Notebook and Springboard book (or whatever you call it)

7th period: Math book (which is hardcover), Notebook, and whatever else from 6th period.

Keep in mind that I am a short 6th grader who usually can't succeed in just touching my locker during locker break.

This needs to stop.

[Jacob]

Agreed 100%, especially when you don't even use the textbook, or you only use it every once in a while. For my English class, we used our textbook one time this year. :/ My school needs to get iPads for everyone and online textbooks but they can barely afford desks.

[James Comey]

I hate having to carry textbooks. They're so goddamn heavy, and it doesn't help shit like that can cause back pain. Oh, and I'm not great at using lockers, either. Thankfully most of my classes don't require me to use my textbooks most of the time.

[brainiac3397]

You know why I hate em?

THEYRE ABSURDLY EXPENSIVE!

Seriously, what the hell? Y SO MUCH MONEY?! We only ever use it for a semester anyway.

[xcriteria]

This reminds me of a post from Justin Schwamm from Ed Startup 101:

My EdStartup Idea 2: Inverting the Textbook

Ever since the dawn of the factory-model school, textbooks have been the primary way that information is delivered from teachers to students, and they’ve been

- developed by a committee of experts

- published (usually in print) as a large, static document

- filled with pre-distilled knowledge (vetted and distilled by those experts) which non-expert learners are expected to acquire from the book itself and the supplementary resources that accompany it.

Textbooks worked well in the 20th century, but not anymore … and students hate them. What would happen if we completely inverted the 20th-century notion of a textbook?

The Problem:

Hidden stuff:

(More quoting from Justin's post.)

The Problem

Everyone has heard and made complaints about textbooks. They’re large, they’re boring, they’re hard to carry, they’re too easy (too hard) to read, they have too much (too little) information, the information is outdated or incorrect but can’t be changed until the next edition comes out … and even when the next edition comes out, how will the cash-strapped school district afford to buy it? Those are important concerns, but they’re symptoms of a deeper problem: as a tool for teaching and learning, the textbook was the perfect 20th-century solution.

It was built for a world where knowledge changed slowly, and where large organizations (which also changed slowly) were able to codify their own factual and procedural requirements in printed manuals. By using textbooks, students were preparing for the printed (hardbound!) policy and procedure manuals they’d experience on the job. And, of course, they usually planned to work for the same large organization, progressing slowly up a pre-defined ladder of responsibilities and pay raises, until they finally retired (with a defined-benefit retirement plan) and “enjoyed life” for a few golden years.

But those days are gone, gone, gone, and textbooks now prepare students perfectly … for a world that no longer exists. They embody pedagogy and practices that are as counterproductive today as they were helpful in 1960, 1970, or 1980.

"So the problem was clear, and there was a path to a solution, and it wasn’t that hard to start. In the words of a famous Latin proverb, “aut viam inveniam aut faciam” – I’ll either find a way or make one. But it’s a lot better when it’s we, not just I."

It's time for a change, is it not? Let's build a better solution than bags full of books that barely get read, and classes where people are tuned out a majority of the time.

[safa100]

I don't like text books but these are the future of us. So, We take care of them to get success in future.

[Gwedin]

Textbooks aren't my future.

Get out.

[brainiac3397]

Textbooks are a conspiracy by the previous generation to destroy the environment before our generation ever gets a chance.

SEE THE TRUTH!

[TreyLina]

Traditional schools spend an absurd amount of money on students, and I belive textbooks to be part of it.

[James Comey]

Textbooks need to go. It's just a mash of info that's not very appealing. Wouldn't it be better to have original individual sources instead available?

[Trekkie_Aspie]

Have you guys checked the ck-12 website's flex books?

[James Comey]

Interesting.

I'm wondering perhaps a new concept.... personalized textbooks?

[Trekkie_Aspie]

(02-10-2014 03:45 PM)Hansgrohe Wrote:  Interesting.

I'm wondering perhaps a new concept.... personalized textbooks?

I wonder how you would go about that....diagnostic test to start with, perhaps?

[brainiac3397]

I wonder how I could put that into a business service...

[Trar]

I think personalized textbooks would be by necessity shorter than the textbooks we have now. Not to mention laid out differently.

I remember carrying all my textbooks in my backpack (I had around 4 or so) even though I was told I could leave them in my locket. For whatever reason back then, I preferred having them with me. Made even less sense when I started doing all my homework in he school library after-hours.

[no]

(05-21-2014 01:55 PM)Trar Wrote:  I could leave them in my locket.

Time Lord Science.

[Zo]

We don't even use our textbooks for everything. Yet teachers still hand them out every year. and we take them home, where they sit and take up space in our rooms. It's so pointless.

[GamerGurl]

(05-21-2014 09:28 PM)Zo Wrote:  We don't even use our textbooks for everything. Yet teachers still hand them out every year. and we take them home, where they sit and take up space in our rooms. It's so pointless.

Sadly I think it comes down to standard procedure. It's probably in their curriculum or something like that. They have to do it.

[Trar]

(05-22-2014 04:20 AM)SirMarty Wrote:  

(05-21-2014 09:28 PM)Zo Wrote:  We don't even use our textbooks for everything. Yet teachers still hand them out every year. and we take them home, where they sit and take up space in our rooms. It's so pointless.

Sadly I think it comes down to standard procedure. It's probably in their curriculum or something like that. They have to do it.

Bureaucracy, hey!

(05-21-2014 08:15 PM)no Wrote:  

(05-21-2014 01:55 PM)Trar Wrote:  I could leave them in my locket.

Time Lord Science.

I meant my locker, but I think life would have been much more interesting if we somehow had been able to use lockets.

[Trekkie_Aspie]

(05-21-2014 12:12 PM)brainiac3397 Wrote:  I wonder how I could put that into a business service...

ck-12's flex books may be a start, perhaps?

[sswbm]

(02-06-2014 09:15 PM)safa100 Wrote:  I don't like text books but these are the future of us. So, We take care of them to get success in future.

Oh no, no time to take care of my textbooks! Where can I hire a textbook-sitter?

[KFC Nyan Cat]

I remember that from 6th grade.

Nowadays, we use Chromebooks. They're laggy pieces of shit, nbut at least they're better than heavy textbooks.

[Dikont5]

Textbooks are the archaic practice of having people do something to do when they have nothing to do. In my opinion, Chromebooks or I pads would work better. Besides, most of my textbooks are so long, but they barely detail any of the chapters they're on. Especially my WHAP textbook.