America have embraced a concept of school called a ‘charter school’ or ‘schools of choice’. This is very much like the new Academies in the UK. They are publicly funded schools but are largely free of state laws and district regulations.
Now these schools are looking to online learning in order to improve performance even further. Online learning is growing by 30% annually in the USA. There will be a move away from the traditional text book and more effort will go into personalised digital learning profiles for each student. This will be a blend of online and offline learning resources.
After all, a netbook or tablet PC is now cheaper than a set of textbooks. It is time for education both home and abroad to embrace the opportunities afforded by digital online resources and embed them in the fabric of education.