No more school books!

This is just not right, I am sitting in class listening to my professor speak about macro-economics and throwing out terms out left and right. As he chats up a topic, I write some notes (using google docs). I then toss the term into search, and typically get a hit at wikipedia. I toss the link into my notes and quick read the the first paragraph. The definition is a match to my professor's description and has quite a bit more supporting details. He mentions "Sealed Air" and their special dividend, quick search and wala "Sealed Air Case Study".

First, wow. What's changed since the time I did my undergrad. Wireless! Fedora! Online Services! it's just amazing to think what will happen when these solutions are productive. The combination/impact of social tools and knowledge/content tools has to be the beginning of a new set of productivity capabilities by which we educate ourselves. I remember being ahead of the curve XX years ago as it relates to using tech at school, but now it's becoming almost productive. Awesome.

Second, no more school books. With all this content, this access, shouldn't we teach without paper? Shouldn't the education system save millions of dollars by leveraging these resources? So, down to the basement I go looking for an old text book. I find an old algebra book and check out a few sections
* Equations and Inequalities in One Variable *
and find "Paul's online math notes"
and Math TV (a subscription service)
and Analyze Math
and a presentation done in the Missouri Rockwood school district [ppt]

Well needless to say the content is out there, it's available. Some good, some bad, but it's out there. I think the program/curriculum teachers use are separated from the content anyway, so why not use this widely available to content married to the curriculum. I realize this statement is naive as many smarter folks have been thinking about this, how to marry social networking with practical education. For me today I felt it was all connecting and felt somewhat productive in it's use.