The Disruptor presents a pair of differing opinions on new developments in Higher Education.

Apple iBooks Author: Innovative New Direction, or Collapse of the "Authoritative" Textbook?

Will the development of Apple’s iBooks Author provoke a wave of unvalidated "textbooks", or usher in a new age of expertise that is not limited to the academic elite?

Collapse of the "Authoritative" Textbook

“Instructional Designers Wanted: No Experience Necessary”

Alan J. Reid, Inside Higher Ed

Alan Reid argues that Apple’s new iBooks author will seriously weaken the existing textbook market.  By infusing iBooks with texts written by unqualified authors, Reid believes the market loses all credibility.  Textbook authors need to be qualified individuals, capable of communicating their expertise to interested learners.  He also points out that by using iBooks, the author signs an exclusive agreement with Apple.  Could this become an avenue for “lemons” to creep into the textbook market?

Innovative New Direction

“Alan J. Reid, PH.D. Student Completely Misses the Point”

Tim Holt, Holt Think: Education Technology Creativity

Tim Holt responds to Reid by acknowledging that his fears are not unfounded, but he is missing the point.  Namely, that society is moving in a new direction.  The information is available, and no longer constrained to a few experts.  Everyone is becoming an expert.  Access to books, textbooks, papers, and articles has been growing exponentially over the past 5, 10, and 20 years.  It is time to recognize that knowledge has been dispersed, and the textbook market needs to open its doors.  Is the backlash from professors and doctoral candidates a legitimate concern, or is this a money move?  Are they trying to restrict access to a lucrative market that they alone have a monopoly on?