Thinking about lugging huge textbooks around high school and college may leave some with a pain in their back, not to mention their wallets. Bulky, expensive textbooks have been the standard for decades, but that may be about to change. With the evolution of high quality digital texts and the prevalence of Internet access in most schools, texts may be going digital. Below are the ten predictions for the future of the textbook, most of which include no printed texts. Until that future comes, you can spend your time figuring out what you will do with your old backpacks–and all the extra money you’ll save.

1. Won’t need to be purchased. Rental textbooks are already popping up at campuses around the country. Purchasing textbooks will become a thing of the past with rentals costing 40 to 70% of the purchase price. Publishers like this option because they can make money off each rental rather than only the first sale, ensuring that more and more titles are likely to become available in the near future.
2. Like a guide book. Textbooks as the authoritative resource is likely to be a thing of the past. Instead, textbooks may become more like guidebooks, or be printed as small pocket versions that include the highlights and links to Internet resources for the bigger picture. One professor likened this idea to a recent trip to Egypt where he took the Lonely Planet guidebook to help him know what he wanted to learn about, then was able to come home and look at more authoritative resources to expand his knowledge.
3. E-textbooks. Like DigitalOwl, a software company in Florida that is sending e-textbooks to some Florida schools, many are already beginning to make the transition to electronic books. Usually electronic books are read on computers and ebook reading devices. While some older studies indicate that reading comprehension is better on printed paper, with technological advances continually improving the quality of ebook reading devices, the chance of e-textbooks pushing ahead looks promising.
4. Virtual textbooks. One way students of the future could get their reading material is from virtual textbooks on the Internet, like Smarthistory. Not only could the virtual textbook contain much more information at a fraction of the cost, students could also see Flash animations demonstrating concepts that are better conceptualized visually. These virtual texts could also incorporate questions and other forms of feedback to ensure the students are engaged.
5. Constantly evolving. Static information that remains in texts for years will no longer be the norm. When information is discovered that outdates what is in the text, it can quickly and easily be replaced when texts are in digital format. With the cost of updating digital texts being only a fraction of the cost involved with updating printed books, material will stay current at a lower price.
6. Interactive. When textbooks go digital, the possibilities of having the texts be interactive are wide open. Hyperlinks connecting directly to the sources, integrated quizzes testing students’ knowledge that can be emailed to the teacher, and interactive diagrams are just a few of the potential opportunities with interactive textbooks. This type of interface is more engaging for students and opens up more learning possibilities than static paper texts can provide.
7. Wiki-like interface. An online textbook could be open to input from others, along the lines of Wikipedia, creating a stronger text. Imagine a textbook where mistakes are flagged, experts can expand on knowledge already included in the text, and the ability for other to contribute elements such as additional practice problems are considered the norm. Like Wikipedia, there would be moderators who monitor the incoming information and maintain the integrity of the content in the textbook.
8. Open textbooks. Like the wiki idea, open textbooks are available online, are customizable, and have the added bonus of being completely free of charge. Open textbooks can be textbooks already in existence that professors find online or can be authored by the professors themselves. The idea of open textbooks is appealing to many professors as the content can be more aligned with their personal teaching style. The concept is appealing to students because these texts come free of charge.
9. High tech. Future textbooks may be in the form of smart phones and ebook reading devices. Some schools are already handing out iPhones, iTouches, and Kindles to their students so they will have access not only to digital texts, but in the case of smart phones, homework alerts, announcements, and more from the school. The flexibility and portability of these devices is appealing to many students and administrators alike.
10. Student-authored. This idea upsets the whole paradigm of traditional education–a student writing the text. However, some recent research has shown promising results from student-authored textbooks. The students who write the text are more engaged and feel they have gained more than they would have just reading textbooks. The content of the books are also more relevant to students, with less rhetoric, more diversity, and are more engrossing.

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The above article was adopted with permission from OnlineSchool.Net.