Evolution rather than extinction: the future of the geography textbook

Epitaphs for the Geography textbook appear somewhat premature. Those claiming that web-based content is rendering the traditional textbook obsolete fail to fully understand and/ or appreciate the increasingly diverse role that textbooks play in Geography classrooms. They also ignore the convergence taking place between traditional forms of publishing and the emerging information technologies. Drawing on the views and experiences of geographical educators, students, and those involved in publishing of Geography texts, this paper examines the role such texts play in contemporary educational contexts. Of particular interest is the changing nature of textbooks, especially the ways in which educational publishers seek to enhance their relevance and utility in a digital age. This paper argues that Geography textbooks remain educationally relevant and are now, more often than not, the centrepiece of an integrated curriculum resource package that includes a range of web-based features including digital versioning, embedded multimedia, links to supplementary Internet content/resources, and on-line learning community forums.