Open Source Textbooks For California 201
T-1000, appropriately enough, lets us know about a California initiative to compile open source science and math textbooks for the state, in the hopes of saving money. The effort is spearheaded by Gov. Schwarzenegger. "The effort seems very promising, but the state's complex standards and arduous textbook evaluation process will pose major challenges. ... The governator will surely be able to stop the digital textbooks from gaining sentience and subjugating humanity, but there are trickier challenges that will be even tougher to defeat than the impending Skynet apocalypse. Textbooks are a surprisingly controversial issue in California and there is a lot of political baggage and bureaucratic red tape that will make an open source textbook plan especially troublesome. ... [T]he traditional wiki approach is untenable for California teaching material. Individual changes to textbooks can become a source of fierce debate and there are a multitude of special interest groups battling over what the textbooks should say and how they should say it. It would take the concept of Wikipedia edit wars to a whole new level."
My Open Math Textbook (Score:1, Funny)
I'm writing an open math textbook. You can find it here. Feedback is appreciated.
Re:I never knew... (Score:2, Funny)
They can present anything they want as long as they teach the controversy.
Re:Couldn't be any worse than what we had... (Score:5, Funny)
Because mathematics runs on proof, not faith. (Score:5, Funny)
Proof-based mathematics vs. faith-based mathematics gets ugly, real fast.
I guess that goes for any proof-based science vs. faith-based science. And their appropriate school books.
Although, I must admit, during my differential equations final exam, I think that some of my answers were definitely faith-based.
Good riddance to differential equations! Not that I want to ruffle any feathers, but I wouldn't recognize the "Differential Equation Rapture," if it popped up and slapped me in the face.
Let alone, being able to classify and solve it.
Re:Open source ? (Score:5, Funny)
When the legislators ask why it isn't working, it's because they forgot the optional, but highly recommended, libfactualcorrectness package.
Re:Because mathematics runs on proof, not faith. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Because mathematics runs on proof, not faith. (Score:3, Funny)
what is pi^3 then?
Delicious.
Re:Because mathematics runs on proof, not faith. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Because mathematics runs on proof, not faith. (Score:3, Funny)
It's an example of faith-based moderation.