As Textbooks Go Digital, Campus Bookstores May Go Bookless

The face of the director of the U. of Kansas bookstore, Estella McCollum, is reflected in the console for a print-on-demand service she helped to set up. Called Jayhawk Ink, it could clear shelf space for other products.

By Jeffrey R. Young

As students cut costs by buying books from cheaper online retailers or by downloading e-textbooks, campus bookstores sell fewer and fewer textbooks. That’s triggering an identity crisis for one of the oldest institutions on campus and leading some college officials to ask: If textbooks go digital, does the campus even need a bookstore?

Read More….

Educause Podcast Now

FYI:  Take a look at this selection of podcasts you can download.

http://www.educause.edu/podcasts/now

Fondly,
Phyllis

E-School News Article on Mobile Computing

submitted by Dawn R. Sweet

According to a recent national survey, access to mobile technology in the classroom has more than tripled among high schools students in the past three years—and even more interesting, parents say they are more likely to purchase a mobile technology device for their child if it’s for classroom use.

The information comes from Project Tomorrow’s annual Speak Up survey and was presented at a conference on mobile learning in Washington, D.C., Oct. 29.

Read more (http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/10/29/survey-mobile-learning-at-a-tipping-point/)

Student Orchestra Performs Music With iPhones

submitted by Sean Cordes

Laptop orchestras ……

Similar events done, last year with iPods at Michigan.

Read more http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/12/michigan-mobile-phone-ensemble/

The rise of laptop orchestras on college campuses

Dear Colleagues:

In case you are not aware of this.

Another interesting trend is the rise of laptop orchestras on college campuses, such as PLOrk, Princeton’s Laptop Orchestra. “We started PLOrk… as a way to explore new ways of making music together with technology,” said Dan Trueman, Professor and PLOrk co-founder, along with Professor Perry Cook. Sound familiar? Libraries have a long history when it comes to innovatively sharing resources and finding creative solutions to serve their users, but innovation labs are also popping up in academic and public arenas around the world.
Fondly,
Phyllis