iBook…Fail…Sigh…
The future of education and the world is openness, collaboration, and sharing. None of these are present in the iPad/iBook solution.
It is closed proprietary system with limitations that are meant to drive hardware sales and move the publishing industry into a rental model that insures that even in the worst budgetary times (such as the funding cliff we educators are still facing) districts will have to spend money.
How is it cheaper for anybody?
The average textbook is used for 3-5 years. So lets use 3 years (since that is about how long an iPad will be useful).
Textbook $100 x 4 Textbooks a year x 3 years = $1200 for 1st year but can be used for 2 additional years.
(iPad $500 + (eTextbook $15 x 4 per year x 3 years) = $680 but since each year an iPad and eTextbooks will need to be purchased $680 x 3 = $2040
$2040 – $1200 = $840 more for iPad and eTextbooks over 3 years.
(Edit)
An even more fair and accurate accounting for costs:
| Textbook | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |
| Student #1 | 400.00 | 400.00 | 400.00 | 1,200.00 |
| Student #2 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Student #3 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| 1,200.00 | ||||
| iPad/eText | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |
| Student #1 | 560.00 | 60.00 | 60.00 | 680.00 |
| Student #2 | 560.00 | 60.00 | 620.00 | |
| Student #3 | 560.00 | 560.00 | ||
| 1,860.00 |
With a difference of $660 over 3 years.
Just doesn’t add up…
iPad/iBooks will cost an extra $840 over 3 years compared to textbooks. Do you think it is worth it? http://t.co/JXD86ONp #edtech #edchat
Thanks, Andrew. I think we’ve used some different numbers, but have reached the same conclusion.
Doug