4 Ideas for Safely Integrating Digital Instructional Content

Like all other print materials — books, newspapers, magazines, etc. — the demise of the hard-copy textbook has been heralded as imminent. But like the Black Knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail who continues fighting even as each of his limbs is severed ("'Tis but a scratch"), the textbook lives on.  

How can this be? With the advantages of digital instructional content so glaringly obvious, why is the transition from print to digital moving so slowly? And why is it that for every school district with a defined transition plan for migrating away from hard-copy textbooks, there are at least 100 others that remain in "wait and see" mode?

Is it because K-12 education in the U.S. is tradition-bound, bureaucratic and loath to change? Maybe. Or because most major textbook publishers haven’t yet provided school districts with compelling and affordable digital alternatives? Perhaps. Or is it that same thorny issue that public and school libraries face in moving from hard copy to e-books — meaning no truly workable solution has emerged? Makes sense.

But it’s all of that — and then some. So what can a forward-thinking school leader do to leverage the available digital instructional content opportunities without risking the kind of costly mistake that could get you fired? Here are some ideas.

1. Implement a comprehensive 1:1 program. To effectively use digital resources schoolwide, all kids must have a computing device all the time — not just at school, but 24/7. Oh, and they’ll also need home Internet access. Lots of schools get stuck here. But it’s key for a successful move from print to digital. And it’s also a disruptive game-changer for teachers. Much has been written on best practices for 1:1 programs, so do your homework.
2. Play to your strengths. Not all teachers will be ready to change to using digital content. Some will never be ready. Some will come along more slowly than others. And some were ready to do it yesterday. So tap these ready teachers first; help them figure out the best ways to do it, empower them to make good mistakes, and then let them lead the other teachers.
3. Procure, curate or create? There are three main ways to go with digital content. You can buy them from a publisher (procure). You can harvest them for free from the many quality open educational resources available online (curate), or you can build them from scratch (create). These options aren’t mutually exclusive; schools can mix and match as appropriate. To begin their transition from print to digital, some schools have chosen to start with the procure option. As their teachers and students get more comfortable, they move on to curate and then perhaps to create.   
4. Start small and grow. The story of the overly ambitious school leader who tries to do too much too fast is one that gets repeated over and over, year after year. And technology provides ample opportunities for such mistakes to be made on even larger, and more expensive, scales. So the wise school leader will gather a core group of ready teachers, work with them to put together a multi-year plan, and then roll, while bringing on additional enthused teachers over time.

Some bold school districts (albeit typically smaller ones) have made, or are making, a strident move to all digital for their instructional content. And there is much to be learned from these districts, because successful systemwide changes such as these require strong and respected leadership, thoughtful planning, careful budgeting, and buy-in from teachers, students and parents. But the move away from textbooks doesn’t have to be a district-led initiative. It’s also possible for individual schools to make this transition to digital content on their own, and to then serve as models for their districts.  

Because, let’s face it, print textbooks will eventually abdicate their thrones as the primary instructional content medium used in schools. And for most of us, the sooner the better. When it's finally replaced, the textbook’s line of succession will continue through even more powerful and nimble digital resources.