In courseware development, we are seeking the best methods in the hope that standards will develop. No on organization is strong enough to drive the standard, but substantive and well-organized programs can impact standards. Flexibility and organization must be our approach. Traditional Books Traditional books are not obsolete, and they are not going to disappear. Books are part of a proven approach to learning, and they will continue to be effective.
Education is most effective when it offers alternatives.
Computer-enhancements will offer new alternatives. It remains to be seen how they will fare against the traditional, proven approaches. Clearly, an exciting alternative is traditional books enhanced by other media. These enhancement can include computer accessible teaching materials, presentation materials, demonstration programs, interactive problems sets and computer-based tools. A book enhanced by such tools offers a much more powerful teaching environment than the book by itself.