GEOLOGY E-TEXTS: BACK TO THE FUTURE

We do not have full geoscience e-texts now, but we WILL have electronic textbooks in the near future (geologically speaking). But what shape will they take, or should they take? What should the objectives be for geoscience e-texts, in terms of coverage and features? These are serious questions, because for the first time since Gutenberg, texts will not operate under the publishing constraints of an existing medium. In fact, e-texts will only be limited by our ability to create content in a digitally-transmittable format. More important than this, however, will be the framework of communication tools that enclose and deliver the e-content. The e-text platform of the future must not only deliver quality materials, but must work to enhance communication in our classes, allowing students to interact with each other online, and students and professors to communicate with a seamless integration between e-text materials and conversation. I am exploring these issues (even as I struggle to produce web-based materials of my own), and will address a variety of models that are under exploration and development today as online textbook creation gets underway.