0

By David Rothman

Rick WatsonThe wiki-based Global Textbook project‘s goal is 1,000 wiki-created textbooks on “topics typically encountered in the first two years of a university’s undergraduate programs.” May the drive-by concept kick in and work out!

The new project’s organizers promise “several innovations to improve the quality of the books” and already enjoys international participation. Rick Watson (photo), the Georgia professor initiating the effort, has already masterminded XML: Managing Data Exchange.

So what do you think of the XML book and the idea in general? And how about the project’s requirement that experts sign off on changes? Or the concept students must improve the textbooks they’ve used? This textbook project strikes me as potentially a big-time winner, especially if there can be student-feedback mechanisms built in (maybe there already are).

How this project fits in vs. ad-supported textbooks: I see roles for each. The wiki model might work where illustrations and formatting aren’t as important as core content. The ad-supported model—ideally with alternatives available for students wanting them—might be strongest in areas where the the trimmings mattered or where volunteer help wasn’t available. What’s more, it’s not quite as radical a change from the present textbook approach. For each book—the right business model, including the existing one! “One size fits all” won’t work. Projects can even include a mix of models, such as a wiki book with corporate sponsors mentioned.

Related: Wikipedia’s book project and Wikiversity and the TeleBlog post Can there be great textbooks without great authors?

(Via ArsTechnia.)

 
0