South Korean school textbooks will be all digital by 2015

July 5, 2011 By Jeffrey Van Camp

South Korea is taking the lead on technology and education, promising to spend $2 billion to convert its entire school system's curriculum and texts to a variety of digital formats by 2015.

Though we haven’t seen many laptops or tablets tackle textbooks in the U.S. yet, South Korea isn’t waiting for consumers. The country’s Ministry of Science and Technology has announced that it will digitize its entire elementary-level educational textbooks and materials by 2014. Topping that goal, the entire school-age curriculum will be available on computers, smartphones, and tablets by by 2015. To make this happen, the country will spend 2.2 trillion won ($2.06 billion), reports the Straits Times Indonesia.

In addition, the ministry is pushing for online classes to be available so that students who miss classes can catch up. Online hours will be recognized as attendance under some circumstances.

“Korean students have ranked first in terms of digital literacy among developed nations according to the OECD-run Program for International Student Assessment,” said an official from the Education Ministry. “That’s why Korean students, who are already fully prepared for digital society, need a paradigm shift in education.”

There is no word on precisely which digital devices South Korea will buy for its students, but hopefully they will be closer to an iPad in terms of functionality. We don’t want these kids getting stuck with the tablet equivalent of a Betamax. And speaking of outdated technology, a few lawmakers here in the United States should take notice. While South Korea moves toward e-textbooks and online learning, many of our classrooms still have to rent a VHS player from down the hall to watch a movie, and a lack of technology is the least of our problems.

Technology Review guesses that Samsung, being a South Korean company, may provide the electronics. We will be mighty jealous if every South Korean student gets a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. On the other hand, if this money goes toward more robot teachers, we’ll probably be okay.

Showing 10 comments

Gabriel Butler at 2:47am 6th July 2011 Yeah, because the poor can afford that.
Brent R Jones at 1:05am 6th July 2011 this will come to the USA because of the need to reduce costs; sooner will be better than later. the best way would be for schools to pay 1/2 and parents the other 1/2.
Eric Asianman Quach at 11:44pm 5th July 2011 South korea is in wars? Since when. If you weren't ignorant you would know South Korea has won of the best economies in the world. Won't work my ass
Jon Whitehead at 9:45pm 5th July 2011 It can't happen here in the US. The kids, or their parents for that matter, would be selling them on ebay.
Joe Yeatman at 9:19pm 5th July 2011 In my school we take state tests on a computer, this would be great instead of lugging around a ton of books.
Victor Velázquez at 9:14pm 5th July 2011 Thats the future of education, everything digital. Books, homework, test, exams.
Jessica Trau at 9:13pm 5th July 2011 This makes a lot more sense, considering how much better it is for students, then lugging around heavy textbooks.
Srinivas Kumar Nunna at 9:13pm 5th July 2011 good concept but in india it will be very expensive !!
Akbar Hossain at 9:12pm 5th July 2011 but it wont cuz theyre spending their money on useless wars
Chris Fair at 9:10pm 5th July 2011 This needs to happen in America.