Disregarding all the usual issues with publishers dragging the chain on making their school text books available in various soft copies…
We often find introducing a different option is a slow process – a bit like introducing Broccoli to kids. This article reifies for me some of the issues I bump into.
http://deangroom.amplify.com/2011/04/04/what-students-want/
It explains a little why kids think the way they do. The myth of digital native is long proven to be nonsense. Their outlook is determined directly by those who show them the possibilities. Our influence as teachers – even as supposed digital migrants is huge. They will take their lead (sometimes unconsciously) from how we model things. Our reliance on text books will influence them. Our limited use of ICT will limit them. Our extensive use and ‘have a try’ approach gives them a belief that there are alternative ways, new ways options and even if we try and fail, it’s a good thing.
We are where they find things out. I wonder if the idea that alpha males taking to e-book formats more readily than girls is because teachers consciously or otherwise treat them differently. There’s a PhD in there somewhere…