Your timing couldn't be any more perfect. On this thread http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=521298 I wrote about using online textbooks at my daughter's high school. Last night I met with the principal and some faculty who are very interested in starting a pilot program to move at least a couple of classes to online books. My task is to find out what materials to use - e-booksdirectory.com could hardly be more perfect - and how to access them in the classroom.
So how would any of you recommend using online books in the classroom (high school level)? Our budget isn't huge but a new Kindle2 costs about the same as four textbooks. Many students already have laptops but certainly not all. Ideas?
Quite frankly, I think that a traditional textbook is still best for actual coursework. Online is great for later reference, refresher study, and research, but no digital format has yet reached the level of usability and robustness as a printed textbook.
The calculus books are very good and very interesting, and include books based on nonstandard analysis, such as the Keisler and Stroyan texts. But the list is very sparse on number theory.
Many of these books have lived on the Web as free books for quite a few years, but it is a convenience to have them gathered in one place.
So how would any of you recommend using online books in the classroom (high school level)? Our budget isn't huge but a new Kindle2 costs about the same as four textbooks. Many students already have laptops but certainly not all. Ideas?