MOUNT VERNON — Digital textbooks seem to be the wave of the future and colleges and universities are exploring that option as an alternative to hard copy books. While many local high schools use a combination of hard copy and digital formats, school districts are looking at going all digital as a way to save money.
At Mount Vernon High School, for example, the math department is piloting a new set of textbooks for possible purchase for next school year, and part of that pilot program involves the use of online textbooks in selected algebra, calculus and other math classes.
Principal Kathy Kasler said, “We don’t know for sure if that’s the direction we’re going to go 100 percent or not, because right now we are in a data collection mode.”
Every teacher who is piloting this curriculum has a set of classroom books, Kasler said, so if a student does not have Internet at home, there are 30 books that students can sign out.
“Plus,” Kasler added, “we have the different computer labs and computers in the library, so kids in study hall could go to someplace — a PC lab or the library — and log on and do their math homework.”
In the past, as with the new science books, the school has purchased textbooks for everyone; those textbooks do include online capabilities.
