Day: March 3, 2004

There will be no EdTech posts this week. I am out of town and enjoying myself. We took the kids to London for Spring break and are having a great time. Our technology is with us, but we are using it mostly for pleasure rather than work.

As I have grown older, I have developed an appreciation for the value of spending time in other places and Cindy and I are pleased we can take our family. I would encourage you to do the same if you have the opportunity. The best way I can explain the benefits would be to refer to the daily experience of watching the sports on TV. Here, not only are the games different than you are used to playing or watching, but the coverage involves teams from countries from multiple continents. The big thing was the India/Pakistan cricket match. I saw a score from the Lakers game, but nothing on the Timberwolves.

One of the lists I follow has somehow become focused on the cost of books. Some are making statements contending without doubt that book companies are evil and responsible for the terrible cost of books and the bad backs of students who must carrying them. I have taken a position on such claims in earlier comments contending that those who take this position are naive regarding all the costs and issues that are invovled (in fact, the quest to save money by reusing books ends up raising costs and may benefit only the stores buying and selling used books). It is true I write a book and may be biased in not complaining about the evil publishing companies. By the way, that used Ford pickup in the parking lot is mine.

Anyway, a subtheme within the general discussion of book costs has involved ebooks. I like this alternative approach to the cost issue and enjoy reading what some imagine may eventually happen given this use of technology. For example, consider the musings of Doug Johnson.