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Do you think more students should transition from books to tablets and e-readers? |
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Do you think more students should transition from books to tablets and e-readers? |
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the only question I have is
the only question I have is a really go for your eyes.?
E-readers vs. College costs
I think the point of the question is being lost in the aesthetics of holding a real book. For myself I prefer to buy my recreational reading in hardbound edition so I can enjoy it as part of my library. However, this is about the increasing cost of education. The reason many college texts aren't put in e-text version is because of the lack of users thus far. The more students brought up using this technology the more publishers will begin to offer. I used 2 e-texts this past semester and prefer that format. Cost comparison; about $75 total for the 2 e-text versus more than $400 for the print versions. That's only 2 textbooks and for one semester. Extrapolate that out to 5-6 classes at least 8 times in a college career. The savings are significant. Consider this, college borrowing has surpassed credit card debt for the first time. Every little bit helps. This is for early college education programs and schools should encourage the adoption of this. This is one time where the nay-sayers are being a little extreme and unrealistic about the costs.
book reader
I personally feel that if a teacher tells the students to read a particular book, then that student should either use his/her own personal kindle/ipad/whatever, or else go to the library and check out a book. The schools should never have to spend money on such an electronic.
E-Readers
There are several reason I think E-Readers or Tablets should not replace books in the schools.
#1. Schools are already strapped for cash. The initial bill, for readers or tablets, would be staggering. Then you have the prices of the required software.
#2. If something happens to the software, you have students delayed in completing assignments until a tech can fix the problem. This does not include the disruption of the class and the time wasted handling the situation. You can bet at least 15% to 20% will be in repairs on any given day.
#3. When they are spilled on, sit on, stepped on and stolen, the school has to replace them. More Money. Insurance? More Money.
#4. The back-lighting on computer screens put a lot of strain on the human eyes. I do not know the scientific findings on possible physical eye damage caused from this, but I do know about the headaches, even migraines, exposure to the screens cause.
#5. When you drop a book, you pick it up and continue working. When you drop a Tablet, or E-Reader, you are shut down.
#6. Books can be shared and used year after year and remain in pretty good condition. What would be the condition of and the life expectancy of Tablets or E-Readers?
I am not old school. I am a gadget person. I love computers, Smart Boards, Smart Phones, I-pads and E-readers! They are great. But over-all, books belong in schools.
ereaders and such
I think you bring up a good point about how breakable the readers are. Any of us as a kid threw our books and personal items around like they were built with springs.
On the other hand, the thought of replacing an entire bookbag with an e-reader and only a few side items is pretty awesome. Not to mention the savings on both not having to buy those expensive text books but also the savings from storage in general.
Ultimately, even if a student has to buy 2 e-readers a year on average (which lets face it, is way too many), the overall price is cheaper to go this route.
The adaptability of e-readers to fix textbook errors and to integrate interactivity and co-references is something that saves students tons of time in research.
My biggest concern is basic. Connectivity. How can any class assume that a student has the ability to connect wirelessly to their gadget (unless they require a device like the kindle which has global connectivity). I'd imagine most kids would prefer an ipad or something similar and that comes with a required wifi connection at home. A new excuse to replace "the dog ate my homework" I suppose. The internet was down.
E-Readers
Anita, very well said! You brought up some good points I haven't even thought about!
E-Readers and Tablets vs Books
In response to Anite Gore Clarks comments I have to point a few problems with her logic out. 1st off the Kindle E-readers are now cheaper then a single text book costs ($79 vs anywhere from $60-$100+) anymore and with the E-reader all their books can be put onto one e-reader. Also Textbooks become outdated and obsolete quickly as schools can not afford to update print books as often as e-books which can be instantly updated if need be with information so #6 is pantently false. As far as the concern of damage issues hold the parents or students responsible same as if they lost the textbook which as I stated wouldnt be too expensive. If these kids can afford $100+ tennis shoes then they can afford to replace a kindle they break. As for software if they schools were to stick to simple e-readers such as the Kindle or Nook software issues would be next to nil. I would not advocate spending money on tablets as that would open up the possibility of students dl'd software inappropriate to it especially games and such which would distract from the learning purpose of the devices.
"If these kids can afford
"If these kids can afford $100+ tennis shoes then they can afford to replace a kindle they break."
I just love this stereotype adults (or maybe non-adults) have placed on college students. Let me just say first off all that I agree with your points on why an e-reader is more frugal. However, cut us some slack with the jabs. A lot of college students are scraping by and to be honest, $100 tennis shoes sound like heaven to me right now what with my ragged, $20 ones.
Right now, my student loans pay for the textbooks. Anything electronic I have to pay with my own money. I just wish loans could update their rules on these things. Dorms vs Apartments? Apartments are cheaper but loans don't pay for them. $600 on textbooks per semester as opposed to an e-reader? Same scenario. Though I guess I COULD take a 2nd job.
For the older student I do agree
Young children should be given books and allowed to hold them. They should be read to and learn to read for enjoyment.
But High School and College level students should be working with technology, saving our schools money on books, and lightening their carry load. There is no excuse to leave your book home when you can fit it into your back pocket.
Highlighting and clipping on e-books is better than using markers and page tabs. Searching for a word or phrase is fast and easy in an e-book. Text can be adjusted to the best font size for the students eye sight. How many of use ruined our eyesight cramming in college.
There is no reason not to transition into e-books for the learning proccess. Very few of us keep text books on the shelf for favorite reading anyway. I'd rather keep room for the classics.
All students
I don't know the logic for requiring a young child to have a physical book to play with versus a child like e-reader? If they are going to go home to e-readers and "grow" into e-readers they should start with e-readers. Plus the ability to add music and movement inside of a story in an e-reader blows any book away and keeps the childs attention.
I think we should pretty much do away with textbooks assuming a wireless connection is available.
It's inevitable and the sooner our schools get on board and adapt, the more likely we are ahead of the curve instead of behind it.
e readers
I believe that all students should learn to read and WRITE. This means, unfortunately, that paper is still necessary. Computers/e-readers and other electronics should not replace written language.
Why in the world. . .
would anyone want to continue to kill trees & jam up landfills with PAPER BOOK??? Not to mention that it would drastically cut the cost of school books, especially college books which are SO expensive! Tablets & e-Readers are definitely the way of the future - they make so much sense!
Killing trees and filling up landfills with books
In case you haven't heard, trees are recyclable, and books are reused a number of times before they ever would be sent to a landfill. In addition, paper is completely bio-degradable. Electronic devices are more expensive, and they become obsolete very soon after being introduced. I have no objection to use of tablets, etc, but students should pay for them themselves.
Books for kids!
Yeah, I'm old fashioned I guess, but in my opinion, children need to learn to read from actual BOOKS. Put away all the electronic gismos, learn to read and research from REAL books at the library like alot of us did. Learn to respect books and treat them with care. When they get to high school,ok, computers and such. But little kids now with cell phones, ipads, etc. Get back to basics! Just sayin.....
Flawed Argument
Your "argument" is flawed. How are "real" books any better than an ebook? Personally I switched to a Kindle and then iPad in the past few years and LOVE it. I don't waste tons of paper on something that would be read one time then thrown on a shelf, and I save money. Not to mention I can read in the dark with the backlight. There are so many advantages to using an ebook...I don't really see any advantages to using a paper book...other than some people's feelings of nostalgia...
It is ok to emrace and teach
It is ok to emrace and teach and learn with all of the new wonderful technology, but don't let it run your life. One day something might happen and all of these electronics will stop working, then what would everyone do?
I also know recent high school graduates that can hardly add, subtract, multiply or divide without a calculator.
Books
People who do not read books(real books) are missing one of the great pleasures of life.
Reading an electronic book would be kind of like having sex with an inflatible doll. It might relieve frustration temporarily but it "ain't nothing like the real thing."
On Star Trek DS9, Jake Sisco
On Star Trek DS9, Jake Sisco was walking around reading a book on an electronic tablet. I said then that I could never read my books on anything like that. I got a Kindle for Christmas and I have read over 100 books on it. I have always been an avid reader (and apparently, a nerd) and I get the same enjoyment from reading the books on my Kindle as I do by holding a book in my hands. I have in my Kindle over eight hundred books. I can carry those books without help. They go with me everywhere. I will not have to box them up when we move. I can change the font size to keep my eyes from getting fatigued. It really has made a major difference on how my eyes are affected by reading. My husband and I still have a lot of hard copy books in our Library. So, I have nothing against non-electronic books. But the e-reader allows access to books that are in the public domain, but are not being printed, or the printed version is so rare that it's expensive.
E-Books
In the past 2 years I have read approximately 30 books on my e-book reader (NOOK). Frankly, I did not read that number of books in the previous 10 years. The convenience and simplicity of using the NOOK has greatly enhanced my pleasure and habit of reading. I wouldn't suggest replacing the orginal books for 100% e-readers, nor would I suggest replacing all horses for 100% automobiles.