Are textbooks dying?

While the use of traditional textbooks has declined, the proliferation of free digital academic content is changing the academic sphere. The rising cost of conventional textbooks coupled with the cheaper and more diverse digital options has prompted some instructors to drop textbooks altogether. Active learning, blended classrooms, and the use of MOOCs have also changed classroom dynamics so that many schools have opted for pre-lecture materials that include less reading and more watching of short videos that serve as mini-lessons. Do these trends spell the death of textbooks?

As instructors in the computer science domain, we have noticed that most of the courses we teach rely more on digital materials. Digital materials, such as interactive online books, videos, and tools, allow for a more individualized learning experience. Some of these tools allow students to solve problems within them and receive automatic feedback. While the effectiveness of the new teaching materials has been evaluated, there has not been a comprehensive look at how replacing textbooks impacts computing education. This panel will provide the opportunity to discuss and reflect on the changing landscape of educational materials and what that might mean for instructors. In particular, the panelists will discuss and engage with the audience on varying issues related to the decreased use of traditional textbooks including:

• The current trends in computing education as it relates to course materials

• The strengths and limitations of using traditional textbooks

• The strengths and limitations of using digital content

• The challenges students face in using the different mediums

• The varying practice across institutions and disciplines

• Student expectations of learning materials

• Faculty preferences

• Suggestions for faculty gravitating towards digital content