Sweden returns to using textbooks

[Anonymous]

If we are going to copy Sweden, I can think of many other more important public policies to adopt that would do more to contribute to educational outcomes than … heavy, out-of-date textbooks.

[Anonymous]

That’s great. Imagine yourself learning chemistry with a series of videos that you can’t figure out where stuff is.

Sometimes we need to page through a book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't Sweden care about the environment?

Who cares about the environment when it comes to educating kids? How about we put restrictions on flying first? You are allowed to take one long distance flight every 3 years and 2 short distance ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If we are going to copy Sweden, I can think of many other more important public policies to adopt that would do more to contribute to educational outcomes than … heavy, out-of-date textbooks.

Do you have kids? My daughter was struggling with Algebra. I asked the FCPS teacher which textbook they were using so I could help her. He said no textbook - just endless pieces of paper, some lost, out of order, and a website that they get a link to - that is no way to learn.

The other problem is that without textbooks, you get different teachers using different resources, teaching in a different order - complete madness. Textbooks were good enough for hundreds of years - the internet has been around for 20 and we've abandoned everything that we know works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't Sweden care about the environment?

I am pro-digital but I also acknowledge that physical textbooks would actually be more sustainable. The amount of energy consumed by the digital economy dwarfs the impact of cutting down some trees for paper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Singapore still uses paper textbooks and lots of paper worksheets. Teaching style there is very traditional. Their PISA scores are far far higher than the US and have been for many years.

I don’t believe this is true. Singapore is a global leader in applied technology and are investing in it for schools.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/moe-education-ministry-technology-learning-spaces-industry-partnerships-21cc-framework-3790921

My niece goes to high school in Cupertino - home of Apple in the Silicon Valley - and they use textbooks.

[Anonymous]

I despise not having books for my kids. I loved leafing through my books as a kid and seeing what we would cover next. And I learned by reading and taking notes - writing helps many people retain what they read and it’s been proven typing does not have the same effect.

But honestly, given the massive schisms between left and right in this country, I legit cannot see anyone in leadership ever coming to an agreement on what books would be acceptable for use in our schools, even if there was interest in adopting them again. It’s a sad state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we are going to copy Sweden, I can think of many other more important public policies to adopt that would do more to contribute to educational outcomes than … heavy, out-of-date textbooks.

Do you have kids? My daughter was struggling with Algebra. I asked the FCPS teacher which textbook they were using so I could help her. He said no textbook - just endless pieces of paper, some lost, out of order, and a website that they get a link to - that is no way to learn.

The other problem is that without textbooks, you get different teachers using different resources, teaching in a different order - complete madness. Textbooks were good enough for hundreds of years - the internet has been around for 20 and we've abandoned everything that we know works.

I mean, I struggled with Algebra 1 in the 1980s using textbooks. The lack of a textbook is not the reason for your child’s struggles, especially if you are one of the colossal idiots who try to push your kid into advanced math. Is she in sixth or seventh grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Singapore still uses paper textbooks and lots of paper worksheets. Teaching style there is very traditional. Their PISA scores are far far higher than the US and have been for many years.

I don’t believe this is true. Singapore is a global leader in applied technology and are investing in it for schools.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/moe-education-ministry-technology-learning-spaces-industry-partnerships-21cc-framework-3790921

My niece goes to high school in Cupertino - home of Apple in the Silicon Valley - and they use textbooks.

Most senior tech leaders are very anti tech for their children. They see what it has done to society and the young and work to prevent it for their own while still profiting in the industry. There are multiple articles about this fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Singapore still uses paper textbooks and lots of paper worksheets. Teaching style there is very traditional. Their PISA scores are far far higher than the US and have been for many years.

I don’t believe this is true. Singapore is a global leader in applied technology and are investing in it for schools.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/moe-education-ministry-technology-learning-spaces-industry-partnerships-21cc-framework-3790921

My niece goes to high school in Cupertino - home of Apple in the Silicon Valley - and they use textbooks.

Bully for your niece. Whatever is your point? California schools are underfunded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we are going to copy Sweden, I can think of many other more important public policies to adopt that would do more to contribute to educational outcomes than … heavy, out-of-date textbooks.

Do you have kids? My daughter was struggling with Algebra. I asked the FCPS teacher which textbook they were using so I could help her. He said no textbook - just endless pieces of paper, some lost, out of order, and a website that they get a link to - that is no way to learn.

The other problem is that without textbooks, you get different teachers using different resources, teaching in a different order - complete madness. Textbooks were good enough for hundreds of years - the internet has been around for 20 and we've abandoned everything that we know works.

I mean, I struggled with Algebra 1 in the 1980s using textbooks. The lack of a textbook is not the reason for your child’s struggles, especially if you are one of the colossal idiots who try to push your kid into advanced math. Is she in sixth or seventh grade?

She was in 8th. I'm not saying the lack of textbook was the reason she was struggling. But the lack of textbook was the reason I couldn't even begin to help her review what she had already learned and preview what she would be learning next - critical learning skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we are going to copy Sweden, I can think of many other more important public policies to adopt that would do more to contribute to educational outcomes than … heavy, out-of-date textbooks.

Do you have kids? My daughter was struggling with Algebra. I asked the FCPS teacher which textbook they were using so I could help her. He said no textbook - just endless pieces of paper, some lost, out of order, and a website that they get a link to - that is no way to learn.

The other problem is that without textbooks, you get different teachers using different resources, teaching in a different order - complete madness. Textbooks were good enough for hundreds of years - the internet has been around for 20 and we've abandoned everything that we know works.

+1000 This. Yes, there are a lot of great things technology can do, but that does not mean that we need to throw out all of the "old" or "traditional" methods. Having a math textbook to refer back to and get practice problems for review is a hugely valuable resource that our DC's schools have discarded in favor of packets and DeltaMath/IXL. I think DeltaMath/IXL is fine, but it is not the same as a textbook.

Our school continues to use textbooks in other subjects and it makes no sense to me that math does not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The top Pisa 2022 ranking countries talk about using technology at school in the launch video. It's not about books vs technology.

I follow Pisa results because I’m an educator and I find this interesting. There are SO MANY variables at play. It’s far too simplistic to say that technology use = strong schools. It’s also the quality of the use and what else the students are exposed to.

We do NOT use technology well. I’ve had an administrator tell me that my lessons are outstanding, but that they would benefit from technology. Why? If the lessons are outstanding already, how would technology make them instantaneously better? It’s a knee-jerk reaction; we need computers to be “good.”

No, we don’t. My students engage with the material and with each other so much more when their laptops are away. They have to rely on their brains instead of Google, and it’s refreshing to watch them think instead of regurgitate. There is a time and place for technology. I no longer believe it’s in the classroom. I’ll use it when necessary (a research unit), but otherwise computers are away.

Could not agree more!!!--signed a parent of MS and HS students

[Anonymous]

The other thing is that these for-profit companies are selling these Apps to our school district. Every year, FCPS pay millions of dollars for Lexia for example. The teachers feel forced to use it. If they bought textbooks, they would be reused every year saving a lot of money.

[Anonymous]

I’m an attorney. I have found over the years that I digest information much better when I print it, highlight and take notes in the margins—even if I never refer back to my highlights and notes. I don’t think our kids retain information the same way from an iPad that they would from a textbook. There is no coincidence that leaning metrics have gone down. Yes, Covid is the primary reason but I think the loss of textbooks has contributed.