South Korean Schools to Ditch Paper, Go Digital

The South Korean Ministry of Education is investing a hefty $2.4 billion into making the country’s school system completely digital. The plan is to abolish textbooks and replaced them with digital learning materials stored in a centralized database, which students would access with tablet PCs.

Of course, there is still much to do before this plan can get off the ground. Digital textbooks still need to be developed, the centralized digital storage system for schools currently does not exist, and many of the schools will need to have WiFi networks installed. There is currently no word on how the tablets will interact with the system, but South Korean reports say that tablets will be provided to low-income school children.

Though some digital education pilot programs have been attempted in the U.S. and other countries, few can rival the scope of the South Korean plan. While it will certainly be interesting to watch unfold, an entirely paperless school system will surely stand as a useful test case for other countries to emulate. Perhaps the digital learning revolution will have its start in Seoul.

(image and story from The Chosunilbo via Engadget)

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Max Eddy