Hopefully the main stream universities can be more innovative as TESC, some are still doing what they were doing 100 years ago
Call me old fashioned but I still like holding textbooks or other reading materials in my hands. In the event of a giant electro-magnetic pulse wiping out the memory of every electronic storage device a printed book can still be read. I can see the value of this initiative though especially for those in remote locations where Internet access is limited and shipping costs for textbooks might be prohibitively high.
When I enrolled with Touro for three semesters, I actually picked up used text books in the subject area of the course to give myself additional study material.
I agree. It's too laborious to dig out antiquate CD-ROM's to revisit the coursework from TUI. I wonder: is there a real marketplace for Kindle in these venues? Feel of a book + instant downloading + readily available resource = legitimate aid for distance ed?
That would be awesome. I don't have a Kindle but assume it would allow you to search for terms and phrases very quickly. Or maybe, even exercise while listening to your textbook chapters.
I agree – nothing like a book. I can scan through a multi-hundred page report or specification in seconds – but it takes much longer to scan the same text on a computer. The EMP scenario is for real – various govt organizations and public utilities are worried about the next solar max which is predicted for 2012. Scroll down to "Space Storm Alert: 90 seconds from catastrophe" on this site for more information: http://www.2012supplies.com/what_is_2012/solar_maxim.html I wonder what effect it will have on cell phone systems. The only Kindle I ever saw did not have search capability. But searching should be quick and easy with a memory stick.