For many school administrators and parents, print textbooks are costly, while the information they contain quickly becomes out of date. In fact, the Federal Communications Commission states that too many students are using texts that are seven to ten years old. As the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) did not exist during this time frame, they will not be compatible with the more rigorous instruction that is expected under the CCSS.
As today's students have grown up using technology, many educators are looking to replace their print textbooks with digital alternatives. This is the case in Georgia's Gainesville City Schools, where institutions such as the Fair Street School plan to take instruction to new technological heights, the Gainesville Times reported.
Instead of physical textbooks, Fair Street students will be given take-home devices featuring software and content they need without having to connect to the Internet. In addition, district officials want to make sure that teachers are finding ways to incorporate technology into their classroom lessons.
Despite these technological changes, there is still a need for traditional textbooks in the school district. For example, new math texts will be available to students in kindergarten through eighth grade in the coming academic year. Gainesville's approach to education shows that it is possible to blend the old with the new and still prepare kids for bright futures.
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