Introduction

Marking a major diversion from the oversized, often dry, and usually outdated traditional textbooks used in school classrooms, online textbooks with electronic content and tools are being piloted in school districts nationwide. “ Diverse districts say digital texts are the future;” a recent eSchoolNews headline declared, "living textbooks" are part of 21st century learning!” “Colonial Disease in the Americas” is the subject of this online student-created classroom text. We hope that this resource of information, images, and other media on this important topic can serve as an useful source of information.