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You seem to be describing web pages. In ~20 years they've had little success in replacing textbooks. Since they're so obviously superior for that purpose, I ca

by ashark 12y ago

You seem to be describing web pages. In ~20 years they've had little success in replacing textbooks. Since they're so obviously superior for that purpose, I can only assume it's because there's not enough money in it for one reason or another. Seems like some sort of free multimedia web textbooks resource would be a great way to spend public money helping some of those unemployed/underemployed professional scholars and scientists that are often covered on HN. Shouldn't even cost much, as government education expenditures go.

potatolicious 12y ago
> "In ~20 years they've had little success in replacing textbooks." I'd argue they have, just not in an official capacity. Even when I was in high school (early 2000s) we relied on websites (and diagrams like above) more than we did our physical books, which were largely not useful for learning. The learners have embraced the power of multimedia and the web, I suppose the problem is that "I made website that makes it easier to learn" is not a photo-op moment like "look at us holding this iPad!".
lbotos 12y ago
You are right. In that way, "e-books" allow you to bundle up a web page in a supportable, standardized format that is easy to sell in bulk. The main reason I know of that teachers use text books is for assignments and pre-built tests. That's where text book companies make some money.
CompanyLaser 12y ago
I think the problem is that education has a deeply embedded tradition of disciplined austerity. I grew up with plenty of "fun interactive multimedia education" but the people commissioned to make that stuff are frumpy and boring as hell and probably hate their jobs. By comparison, very few people who upload educational videos to YouTube do it because they were told to. It's something they're passionate about. All the best teachers I had made heavy use of YouTube in the classroom.
Retra 12y ago
My biggest irritation with using web pages for school is that with schoolwork, I am often looking down at my desk with paper and pencil in front of me. Using a website requires me to look up and deal with a keyboard taking all my desk space. It is hard to focus on the work when you are fighting with a computer at the same time.
- AtmaScout 12y ago
  I agree. When the tools get in the way it is very difficult to learn.

by ashark 12y ago

potatolicious 12y ago

> "In ~20 years they've had little success in replacing textbooks." I'd argue they have, just not in an official capacity. Even when I was in high school (early 2000s) we relied on websites (and diagrams like above) more than we did our physical books, which were largely not useful for learning. The learners have embraced the power of multimedia and the web, I suppose the problem is that "I made website that makes it easier to learn" is not a photo-op moment like "look at us holding this iPad!".

lbotos 12y ago

You are right. In that way, "e-books" allow you to bundle up a web page in a supportable, standardized format that is easy to sell in bulk. The main reason I know of that teachers use text books is for assignments and pre-built tests. That's where text book companies make some money.

CompanyLaser 12y ago

I think the problem is that education has a deeply embedded tradition of disciplined austerity. I grew up with plenty of "fun interactive multimedia education" but the people commissioned to make that stuff are frumpy and boring as hell and probably hate their jobs. By comparison, very few people who upload educational videos to YouTube do it because they were told to. It's something they're passionate about. All the best teachers I had made heavy use of YouTube in the classroom.

Retra 12y ago

My biggest irritation with using web pages for school is that with schoolwork, I am often looking down at my desk with paper and pencil in front of me. Using a website requires me to look up and deal with a keyboard taking all my desk space. It is hard to focus on the work when you are fighting with a computer at the same time.

AtmaScout 12y ago
I agree. When the tools get in the way it is very difficult to learn.