"TUI calls on schoolbook publishers" to cop the f**k on

the probem i see with laptops or computers is that eventually you will will have to pay the same amount for the programme as you would the book. (suppode you could get a torrnt of it;) )
also there would be alot of distractions if access to the internet was available in the classroom. No internet filter would be able to block every, game, social and video site on the internet.

Misanthrope wrote: »

This is about our future not the present.The world is moving now at a frightening pace.Technologies are developing, merging,morphing, dying at an ever growing pace.Pretty soon,if you have to wait for a book to be written,printed and bound, you have lost the race.
The issue originally brought up in the thread was about the cost of books and the fact that they are reissued even if there are no significant changes to the syllabus or in the way the book gives the information. That has to change. Having those e-book readers would be a much better alternative then computer terminals for each student Ill admit. However the providers would still have to realise the main point of this thread which is about ridiculous prices.
Ireland is falling way way behind in education standards.We're going from being one of the best,in the 80s and early 90s to middle of the pack right now.We are slipping.
Yes, we are. The maths exams are getting dumbed down for one. However aside from the technical option subjects none of the core secondary subjects would really benefit students by being technologically advanced. As well as that the route cause of this falling behind is due to teaching quality coupled with course content. Im only 3 years out of the leaving and throughout the subject range I did you had evidence of that. The VEC college I was in had it worked out great. Computer rooms when needed for the subjects that really needed them and standard classrooms for the rest. That coupled with Moodle notes library for out of college hours. Thats the way it should go for secondary. Not across the board computerisation of everything, utter waste of resources when a laser cutting printer would be much more useful for subjects like Technology.

Picture that scenario today.The only thing to do would be accumulate the new information on the office web connection and then run off photocopies to the entire school as an amendment to the obsolete books.Is that where we want to be?

That is the way they would do it now however with a Moodle based system for each school that wouldn't be necessary.
Kindle/e-book system could work well though the providers will still charge crazy prices for them under the premise that the book cost nothing, but the development of it cost a lot.

And at the end of the day we will still have an uninteresting syllabus across many of the subjects taught by some teachers who I have to say neither had the motivation or the skill to teach them. There are too many problems with the currents secondary schooling system and they will not be fixed by kindle or computer terminal.

The Dept. of Education should hire a few expert people to write electronic versions of books and subsidise the use of iPAD-like tablets.

Maybe later. I've gotta go and pick up my Rx.

Here is a policy implemented by mathematics professors in UCLA in the U.S.

"A Textbook Editions Policy
We have become increasingly concerned
about a fairly common practice
in the textbook publishing business.
New editions are published on
a regular cycle, with a period as short
as four years, with little if any consideration
of whether these new editions
are justified on academic
grounds. We understand that new
book sales decrease in years following
publication of new editions, as
used copies become more available.
Given the very high prices of new
mathematics texts, it is not surprising
that students often choose to buy
used copies. To fight the reduction of
income to publishers and authors,
new editions appear for no apparent
reason. This practice costs students
money and forces often trivial but
irritating changes in course outlines.
This letter is prompted by the announcement
that a particular text we
have been using for a number of years
is now going into the seventh edition.
Successive editions of this text have
appeared every four years for some
time. In our view, they have gotten
worse rather than better, because of
the inclusion of more examples and
verbiage that apparently are only intended
to justify each new edition.
We have no problem with books
that go into second and third editions
because of the desire to correct errors,
improve presentation, or change topics
covered, based on the experience
of users of the original version. But if
the author can’t get it right by the
third edition, he/she should give up.
The decision to publish a new edition
should be based on pedagogy, not
money.
To put some pressure on publishers
to adopt what we consider a more
responsible approach to this issue,
the undergraduate studies committee
of the UCLA mathematics department,
at its meeting of June 7, 2005,
adopted the following resolution:
“Whenever one of our textbooks appears
in a new edition beyond the
third, if there is no evidence that it
represents a significant pedagogical
improvement over the previous edition,
the mathematics department will
immediately start a search for a replacement
text.”
At the same meeting, we decided
to change the text mentioned in the
first paragraph above. This text has
also been used by the UCLA statistics
department. Robert Gould, who is
my counterpart in that department,
has endorsed this letter.
—Thomas M. Liggett
Undergraduate Vice Chair
of Mathematics
UCLA"

link

Sadly, this is true about math texts, one reason why you should go for the
old stuff, not only are they cheaper they are more challenging and clearer.
It pays off for the writer however, there is an author of a famous calculus
book (that is horrible) who has a $24 Million mansion due to this practice.

We're faced with the problem that we do not have enough Irish books for the 2nd years in our Book Rental Scheme. It's not a case of ordering in new ones as there have been two new editions in the last 5 years and the one we have is not available any more. We can't afford to change everyone to the new ones. So even schools that try to use second hand books have problems because of new editions.

Misanthrope wrote: »

A violation of copyright though.

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

Except that the publisher would sue the school for copyright.

Sigh. Tongue in cheek guys...

Misanthrope wrote: »

Again?There hasn't been a first time yet?He's pwned himself at every available opportunity.Maybe it's all the Xanax he's popping.Mother's little helper................ hardcore addiction alright.Addicted to being a jellied out mess and not being able to remember any of it.He should just go to sleep.

So, tell me about you.Are you the secretary of Terry's fan club?Why don't YOU destroy me?What was the point of your post?There's no content other than PA antagonism.If you've got a point make it.

But you don't have a point do you.You just circle like a vulture hoping your Wrestling Idol Terry will leave a few tidbits.Maybe if you keep rimming him you might get a few morsels.

I'm out, that felchy slurping noise you're making is sickening.

Gay sex. lol.

Wertz wrote: »

You sure you're not a yank Misanthrope? You've the lingo and mannerisms down to a tee. Not that it matters, but if you're only over there on a J1 or soemthing that's some serious cultural realignment in a short period...who the hell wrestles in Ireland or uses it as a gay metaphor anyway?

Oh and LEAVE BRITNEY TERRY ALONE!!

Your WWE champion.

Misanthrope wrote: »

I've lived here eleven years.I hadn't really noticed the change in my lingo.But I guess **** has rubbed off.When in Rome ........ ..................................visit the Irish barpub

Terry is listed as a ProWrestling forum mod.

While I can respect the athleticism and choreography of it's protagonists, I look at it's fans and weep.As pathetic a sight as you're ever likely to see.A kaleidoscope of Napoleon Dynamites.

As for the gay metaphor?Do I really have to spell it out.Sweaty juicers in spandex and tassled boots,groping each other in a simulated fight/pantomime, in front of a predominantly male audience all whooping and hollering like the front row at an early Beatles concert.Can I please stop now.

I'll leave Terry alone then.But if he comes back for more it'd be rude not to oblige.;)

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd177/mrmiller09/american-football-is-gay.jpg
http://mike100915.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/gay_soccer_12.jpg

I don't even need to do rugby.

Oh yeah. Hello.