Hello Christina and welcome to classroom2.0 What do you see the future of textbooks being? Due to costs, some schools are developing online courses.

Hi Anne,
In response about the future of textbooks, I would like to think that most schools (at all levels) would turn to using online textbooks. If necessary, I am sure textbooks could be translated into a student’s native language.
Since most students can find the information online, textbooks should only be used as an introduction to the topics. Of course, we need to make sure students know where to find the creditable and reliable information.

Having online textbooks would also help save some trees. Rather than buying new textbooks, which can weigh down those backpacks, having online access would prevent the school and parents from replacing lost, stolen, or damaged books.

The problem with online textbooks is with those students who do not have internet access at home, and or, from the lack of computers available in a school. Especially, where there are high numbers of people in low socioeconomic school districts. The money is not there for regular equipment, much less for enough computers for most classrooms.
For online classes, most of which I think are still in the postsecondary levels should not require any one to buy a hardcopy of a textbook. Students can buy access numbers, which would be much cheaper than buying a hard copy, in order to use the required textbook. In addition, it would save the hassle of trying to get rid of the textbook after completing the class. I have plenty of books that I cannot get rid of because they are either outdated or not being used anymore by the professor.