Yes, the mobile tablet is a new touch point for learning. The mobile tablet is the first technology that truly reimagines a textbook as a 24/7 always-on learning experience—delivering compelling layers of instruction brilliantly illuminated with color, video, 3D animation, and powerfully interactive images. The print textbook will face its first true competition.

As you might know, Pearson has announced a new suite of multimedia textbooks and reference titles for Apple’s iPad. These gloriously beautiful books, designed for students and learners of all ages, showcase new, specially-created content from two parts of Pearson: the leading education services and technology company Pearson North America and world-renowned illustrated reference publisher DK.

The new titles include four of Pearson’s market-leading high school textbooks recreated for the iPad: Miller & Levine Biology, Algebra 1, Geometry, and Environmental Science: Your World, Your Turn. An estimated four million American high school students have studied math and science through the print versions of these programs. Pearson will release two further high school titles – Chemistry and Algebra 2 – in February.  Will there have a seismic impact on learning?

This first wave of Pearson books on the iPad contain approximately 7,000 pages of learning content, 1,000 interactive widgets (including 3D animations and Keynote presentations), more than 100 videos and some 5,000 test questions so that students can check their understanding.

The shift has begun.

The iPad allows for publishers and authors to add extraordinary depth and wonder to the student experience and almost limitless opportunities to pursue and enrich understanding unconstrained by a text page.  Students can control their own learning.  They can pinch and stretch, drag and click illustrations, animations, content, videos, and photographs.

Pearson is a dedicated pioneer in the use of digital and mobile technologies continually researching transformative developments to enhance education and publishing. Whether it is adaptive learning with the MyLabs for school and college students; Dash, Pearson’s award-winning app that gives teachers mobile access to multimedia learning materials and personalized lessons; or OLE, Pearson’s Online Learning Exchange, a trusted source for content that connects teachers to thousands of learning objects, videos, animations, and photos to customize their lessons and teach their own way, Pearson is on the trail of the next innovation that will bring successful outcomes for teachers and the students they serve.

Do you have a thought to share or comment to add to this dialogue on how you envision the mobile tablet changing the dynamics of teaching and learning?