Loading…
Welcome to the Jeffrey Powell Mobile Learning Conference!  Grab your ticket today!
← Back to schedule
Replacing the Traditional Textbook: Student-Created, Continuously Revised Course Resources
Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Traditional textbooks are often expensive, static, and quickly outdated—especially in survey courses like Music Appreciation. In response, this session shares a practical model for replacing the traditional textbook with student-created, continuously revised course resources.  

Undergraduate Music Appreciation students research musical periods, composers, and representative works, then author textbook chapters using iPad-centered workflows and Apple Pages. These resources include written explanations, listening guides, visuals, and curated media designed for future learners. Rather than functioning as one-time projects, each cohort begins the course using the previous edition of the student-created textbook. Students critically evaluate the material, identify gaps or inaccuracies, and revise or supplement the content, resulting in a “living textbook” that evolves over time.

The session will examine the instructional design, scaffolding, and assessment practices that support this work, including peer feedback, revision cycles, and alternative grading focused on growth and accuracy rather than points. Attendees will see examples of student-authored textbooks published on Apple Books and learn how this approach increases engagement, improves accountability, and significantly reduces costs for students.
Participants will leave with a transferable framework for implementing student-created course resources in their own disciplines, along with practical strategies for managing revision, quality control, and sustainability over multiple semesters.
Speakers
avatar for Donald Sorah

Donald Sorah

Professor of Music, The University of Virginia’s College at Wise
Donald W. Sorah is a Professor of Music at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, an Apple Distinguished Educator, Apple Learning Coach, and ISTE Certified Educator. He is the recipient of the SCHEV Outstanding Faculty Award and a two-time Outstanding Use of Technology in... Read More →
Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
  Featured Speaker, Tuesday

Sign up or log in to save this to your schedule, view media, leave feedback and see who's attending!

Tweet Share

Get help with the event

Contact event planner Event login
View support guides Find upcoming events
Create an event you'd love to attend!
Explore why organizers choose Sched • Success stories
Event App • Event scheduling • Event registration • Event ticketing • Sched forms • Call for papers • Badges • Conferences
© 2026. SCHED LLC - All rights reserved - Helping events since 2008
Conference Scheduling Software • Privacy • Terms
Share Modal

Share this link via

Or copy link