# Cybertextbooks **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 11, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cybertextbooks/655409 "2013-04-11T15:36:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cybertextbooks/655409/1 "2013-04-11T15:36:01Z")
My grandson (Master Longsword) is finishing up 6th Grade. Next year he’ll be getting into subjects such as Basic Chemistry, Biology 101, etc. What I wanna know is are there any websites that act as textbooks? You know, chapter-by-chapter layout, with video clips to show experiments (and what happens when the experiments don’t work the way they should), more photos, links to cites for additional information, etc. Review questions at the end of the chapter could have links to the above text to make sure the students get the idea. Wikipedia (for all its faults) is a wonder, but it doesn’t have the videos and it’s level of reading ability is not aimed at teenagers. It seems to me something like this would be a great aid in say, learning how to dissect a frog. It would certainly beat the crap of the slideshows I watched in High School on cell division. It would also be easier to update than a hardbound book, and color’s free. Also, when I was a child (lo, many moons ago) my family had The World Book Encyclopedia, which was aimed at kids. Is there a Wiki Jr.? Maybe there is, but I just haven’t seen anything like it. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cybertextbooks/655409/2 "2013-04-11T15:37:03Z")
When I took algebra last semester they had something like this. The whole textbook was online, plus samples, quizzes, homework, examples and much more. But none of my other classes have anything similar. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cybertextbooks/655409/3 "2013-04-11T15:38:52Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > When I took algebra last semester they had something like this. The whole textbook was online, plus samples, quizzes, homework, examples and much more. > > But none of my other classes have anything similar. I’m not surprised: my grandson has tons of math-related websites his school recommends. I just haven’t seen anything for the other sciences or the humanities. Do you have a URL for that textbook, BTW? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cybertextbooks/655409/4 "2013-04-11T15:56:28Z")
Lots of Social Studies textbooks are going to **Mika** ’s example. On-line quizzes, tests, support material and the like. Explore the publisher’s websites for examples. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cybertextbooks/655409/5 "2013-04-11T16:00:13Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Lots of Social Studies textbooks are going to **Mika** ’s example. On-line quizzes, tests, support material and the like. Explore the publisher’s websites for examples. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cybertextbooks/655409/6 "2013-04-11T16:14:17Z")
The Khan Academy is very well respected and many of the supplemental tools you’re asking about. It’s aimed at a wide ranges of ages, too. > **[Khan Academy | Free Online Courses, Lessons & Practice](https://www.khanacademy.org/)** > > Learn for free about math, art, computer programming, economics, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, finance, history, and more. Khan Academy is a nonprofit with the mission of providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cybertextbooks/655409/7 "2013-04-11T16:17:50Z")
This looks like just the thing I was hoping for. Thank you so much! ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cybertextbooks/655409/8 "2013-04-11T16:22:05Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > I’m not surprised: my grandson has tons of math-related websites his school recommends. I just haven’t seen anything for the other sciences or the humanities. Do you have a URL for that textbook, BTW? Thanks! I’ll try to find it at home. I don’t know if you’ll be able to access it, though, as when I bought the book I also got a secure ID and passcode to get on. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cybertextbooks/655409/9 "2013-04-11T16:24:15Z")
Understandable. If it was available to all, how could the publishers afford to do it? Thanks!