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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]Textbooks are inefficient and expensive, especially when compared to online resources.[/quote]

I understand that, but math is a bit different from a class like science or history (where changes occur and the book needs updating).  A textbook gives people a compact "go to" resource that doesn't require internet service and where you can page back to previous lessons quickly.  Online resources are scattered and can actually take more time to access.  The textbook allows people to "see" the direction of the curriculum quickly and efficiently.  I don't get the "inefficient" comment.

[b]I think that online textbooks are not "free".[/b]  [/quote]

I can't speak for elementary math textbooks but our child's online textbooks in older elementary and middle school were absolutely "free." The school system pays for the online access to the textbook web sites and we and our kid just use the password given to us by the teacher. My child's algebra 1 textbook last year was all online and very useful. As for "paging back to previous lessons quickly" and looking ahead to the rest of the curriculum, that's all doable online--just page through as you do with a textbook. Yes, there is the issue of kids without Internet access at home, but that is a problem larger than just online access for textbooks, and in our schools at least, the school finds out at the start of the year if a family has access issues and works with that.

[/quote]

Is it cheaper for the school to buy the online textbook verses the hard copy? Both require the school system to pay something. I am fine with the online textbook although it does take longer to access at home than just opening a book. In school, our child actually gets paper taken from an actual workbook which I like. The online access if fine at home especially if it is much cheaper for the school. Most subjects though don't have anything even online to refer to.[/quote]

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