January 26, 2015
iBook produces savings for education students
A College of Education faculty member is the latest to develop an iBook for future teachers thanks to the college's Open/Alternative Resource Initiative.
Brad Burenheide, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, was awarded a $3,000 grant to develop an iBook for his course, Secondary Social Studies Methods and Practicum. Students began it using this semester, saving each $140. The projected annual cost savings is estimated at $4,200.
The nine-chapter iBook is devoted to complex topics such as teaching history, teaching civics and political science, teaching economics, assessments and fundamental pedagogy. Created in iBooks Author, Burenheide appreciates the flexibility of the technology.
"I no longer have to settle for a textbook that's close to what I want," he said. "Textbooks were not keeping up with cutting-edge information, and now I can update content economically, efficiently and with the most current ideas in research."