E Textbooks

3/17/2013

Find an article about E Textbooks and share the link. Also give your opinion.

Something to ponder.....even if a large group of students say they rather have a real textbook is it what they are going to buy? If you can get the E text cheaper what would you get?

40 Comments

Laurel Thornton

3/19/2013 11:10:30 am

http://insite.artinstitutes.edu/the-pros-and-cons-of-etextbooks-41162.aspx

The article I chose was entitled “The Pros and Cons of E-Textbooks.” This article laid out arguments for and against e-textbooks. According to the author, many students of the iPhone generation have welcomed the idea of saving paper and money by investing in e-textbooks. In addition, they are light weight and are easily updated.

The down side to these is that they are susceptible to viruses, dead batteries, and other technical difficulties that come with the devices they are accessed through.

Students who use e-textbooks to appreciate benefits such as interactive assignments and quizzes and immediate feedback on their work.

I agree with many of the points in this article. E-textbooks are convenient and, individually, less expensive. However, there is the issue of the device on which to access them. Tablets are pricey. This is a major roadblock for students of all ages. Personally, I have put off purchasing any kind of e-reader. I prefer a book I can hold and flip through to find information for both academic and pleasure reading.

Kayla Y.

3/20/2013 01:34:21 am

While I enjoy the idea of having an e-textbook because it is convenient, easy to access, and "lightweight", I also prefer to have a book that I can pull out and read the old fashion way. To me, flipping through pages is just so much easier. Easier to find information when you need to go back to something, and easier to mark-up. This article brings up a lot of good points, that I too agree with, but I agree that until we have the budgets to incorporate devices that support e-textbooks for every student this is not feasible.

Colie Trawick

3/20/2013 06:58:26 am

The crazy thing is, I am the owner of the nook & the kindle fire and I never really thought about viruses or anything. You tend to forget that it is an electronic device that has access to the internet. The nice thing is I feel safer with these tablets because once you download the book you no longer need internet to access it.

Crissina Kemp

3/20/2013 07:53:28 am

As with any issue, there are always pros and cons. I think the upcoming generations of students will prefer e-textbooks over hard copies because they are growing up using mobile technology devices and learning to access information on them. Schools could purchase and manage where e-textbooks are downloaded from to help reduce the risk of viruses. The cost of textbooks for college students has become ridiculous, and e-textbooks are a more affordable alternative. Most college students own laptops and could download e-textbooks on them if they don't have an e-reader. The one-time cost of purchasing e-readers would probably still be cheaper for college students than continuing to have to pay anywhere from $500-$1000 per semester for hard copy textbooks. A major issue would be K-12 students in public schools having equal access to devices for e-textbooks.

Heather Carlton

3/21/2013 05:12:03 am

I agree with your comment about upcoming generations. We didn't grow up with e-textbooks therefore we can't fully grasp the concept of not having an actual textbook in hand.

Melissa Lovette

3/20/2013 11:35:59 am

I agree with the price of the tablets might be an issue for all ages. However, textbooks are also pricey as well. But I also agree that one has to be aware of other things you mentioned such as viruses and technical difficulties. I'm like you, I prefer books. You not only can mark them up, you can copy, flip through, and read over and over.

Dane frazier

3/24/2013 09:44:23 am

I also believe that having a book is alittle easyer, however I have grown up using a textbook rather then a etextedbook, givin the opportunity I would most certainly be able to switch to an ebook.

Caleb Haynes

3/25/2013 05:08:22 am

I have never used an E-textbook but they do sound very interesting and useful. I would probably like them quite a bit once I learned how to used it and get all of it down. I would probably prefer just using a regular textbook though because it seems like there could be some things that could be set backs when using E-Textbooks.

Mary McGee

3/26/2013 01:50:10 am

So true, i too enjoy holding a book in my hands to read. Tablets, i-pads etc are also just too pricey. I see other ways to get our immediate feedback, most schools have computer labs available and nearly all students have access, throughout their day,to the internet they can check grades this way.

Zech Bowman

3/20/2013 02:19:03 am

I always like it when things are easy and convenient, especially with textbooks at times. I think a lot of back trouble for some students could be avoided with not having to lug around those heavy books. Although I do agree that I prefer going through a textbook the old fashion way and finding information is a lot easier. And remember, the actual book will probably last longer than the battery. As an old football coach of mine would say, its only as good as the batteries that are running it.

Cassandra Nappier

3/20/2013 04:46:55 pm

I agree with the battery comment. I am horrible for charging my electronic devices. Sadly, I am one of those people who rely on my cell phone. Even with as much as I rely on it, I STILL forget to charge it. At least if I'm in a hurry to get to class, I can grab a textbook and not worry that it will die on my halfway through the class.

Caleb Haynes

3/25/2013 05:10:12 am

Ya I agree that the battery issue could be very frustrating as well. Also E-Textbooks can be very pricey which could be a problem for many students.

Troy Holbrook

3/20/2013 03:06:42 am

I found this article that discusses the pros and cons of electronic media textbooks. Some of the pros the author highlighted were that e-textbooks are easily updated, saves paper, no weight compared to paperback books, so there is less of a strain on students having to carry the books, they cost less, and are easily distributed via the World Wide Web.
On the downside, many students claim that the e-textbooks are awkward and inconvenient. Some other draw backs to e-textbooks are that the student will need a device that has a storage capability, e-books cannot be resold and in many instances, the access to the e-textbook will expire in a given amount of time deeming the e-book completely inaccessible.
I used an e-book for one online class that I took at UCM and found that although the e-book was much cheaper than a hard copy, it was in fact very cumbersome to use. During a quiz or exam, it took much to long to “leaf” through the book when looking up information. Also, I am of the type that likes to see the entire page of the book before me when I read. It is somewhat awkward having to scroll down a page to read.
Here is the link to the article:
http://insite.artinstitutes.edu/the-pros-and-cons-of-etextbooks-41162.aspx

Wendy Walker

3/20/2013 06:50:19 am

I agree that they are easily updated, saves paper, etc. I know I hated to have to lug around textbooks in school. It would be so much easier to put them on an I-Pad or android device and have it right at your fingertips. It is also great with all the interactive software that comes with them.
I do see a problem with updates being done and using large amount of data space on devices. Some textbooks are only used for specific units or even chapters.
I like the ease of use for textbooks but prefer paper books for reading and enjoyment.

Colie Trawick

3/20/2013 06:53:48 am

I can see how students think it is awkward to have e-books. As an advid kindle/nook user it did take me time to adjust to reading that way. As well as sometimes just wanted to have the hardback book in your hand. There are some books that I will not buy from my e-reader because I want to be able to put it on my shelf. The fact that it is very cost effective makes it a go for me.

Crissina Kemp

3/20/2013 08:04:18 am

I work with students who often have to get rolling backpacks or use multiple backpacks for all of their books so e-textbooks would help with the strain of having to carry all of their books. I hadn't thought about e-textbooks expiring after a certain amount of time so if a student wanted to keep their books for the future, they would not be able to access them after the expiration. I've also heard one of the downsides of e-books on the e-readers is not having page numbers so if students want to access information they previously read, they would have to search for it. I do like the affordability factor of e-textbooks, particularly for college students who are usually struggling financially. Colleges could always offer both options of an e-textbook and a hard copy and let students decide which they prefer.

Troy Holbrook

3/24/2013 12:17:51 pm

I have read articles that discuss the detrimental effects of students carrying a great deal of weight in their backpacks due to the large number of textbooks or bulky books. When my wife was attending UCM earning her teaching degree not so long ago, her backpack slipped off her shoulder and in the act of trying to grab it, the excessive weight literally broke her finger.
Here are some comments from spine-health.com
The back will compensate for any load applied to it for an extended period of time. A heavy weight carried in backpacks can:
• Distort the natural curves in the middle and lower backs, causing muscle strain and irritation to the spine joints and the rib cage
• Lead to rounding of the shoulders
• Cause a person to lean forward, reducing balance and making it easier to fall

I suppose that this could be considered a serious disadvantage to carrying literal textbooks.

Melissa Lovette

3/20/2013 11:41:10 am

Yes, that is one thing I have found very awkward as well with E textbooks - scrolling!! I to would rather have the entire page of information in front of me or at least to where I can flip and find it fairly easily.

Kayla Y.

3/21/2013 02:21:05 am

I agree with having all the information you need right there on the page in front of you. Makes it a lot easier than having to search for information through scrolling when there may not be page numbers. Textbooks to me are just more convenient, even though it may seem to be the other way around.

Heather Carlton

3/21/2013 05:33:41 am

The scrolling seems like it would take up a lot of unnecessary time!

Mary McGee

3/26/2013 01:52:01 am

I did not even think of the resale value and expiration of e-books that is a great point. I used a table my first semester and hated it, I like having a book to write my notes in and flip through. The e-book was difficult to use and made it harder for me to follow along. Good to know I was not the only student who felt that way.

Colie Trawick link

3/20/2013 06:50:13 am

Students Still not taking to e-book!
I found this article very interesting because I would have though E-textbooks would be a much more used entity if offered at your higher education institution. Personally, if e-textbooks were offered here and were cheaper I would definatly buy & use them.

This article states that only about 6% of the students are using e-textbooks as their main material of courswork. The positive data is that most students who use e-books are paying to dwnload them so it seems to be a pretty legal market.

There are obvious benefits to e-books such as lower costs, lighter backpacks, added features and convenience. But the problem is how many of our students have access to electronic devices that support the software it take to have the e-books. I think this situation is very similar to BYOD in our lower educational systems, how do you make the system fair so that everyone can have the option of having access to e-book.

Colie Trawick

3/20/2013 06:51:20 am

Sorry the website is
http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2013/students-still-not-taking-to-e-textbooks-new-data-show/

Laurel Thornton

3/20/2013 09:15:23 am

The price is always my concern with these types of things. I work in a low income district and I do see a lot of kids that bring thier devices to school to read in the mornings, but I know there are a lot more kids whose families can't afford to feed them over the weekend, let alone buy an expensive device. Unless the district provides them, I don't think there is a fair way to handle this. And they way things are looking, I don't think many districts will have that ability for quite a while.

Armegis Spearman

3/21/2013 01:37:30 pm

I agree that this technology is nice to have and the opportunities and benefits are and can be great. The downside for me is also the low income students of all nationalities that cannot afford to purchase them. Without assistance from the government or some kind of fundraising by the school or district, how can we keep the kids who are unable, by no fault of their own, up to speed with the changes that are almost required around the world? It is almost exactly like BYOD..

Wendy Walker

3/20/2013 07:18:09 am

I found an article that discusses the pros and cons of e-textbooks, and books in general. http://coeus.hubpages.com/hub/Ebooks-vs-Paper-Books-The-Pros-and-Cons-2012 is the website.
I still love a good paper book in my hands for enjoyment. I am the assistant library director where I work and I try to read all the new books we get in. Sometimes it doesn't happen but I don't have to worry about checking it out and it expiring in the two week e-book checkout timeframe. I like the weight and texture of a book. With that said - I am a fully grown woman who takes college courses as I choose. For middle and high school students, e-textbooks would be the option that I would choose as an administrator and teacher. The e-textbooks work on most devices that students already have. Those who don't have a device should be able to have the school provide one - simple kindles are only $69 now! These would save space and are environmentally friendly.
The cons would be that the readers could get lost or broken, damaged by liquids, stolen, or other events. Most e-textbooks expire after a certain date and what would students have to reference back too? I still go back and check information in my old textbooks.
It is simply an issue of what each student and district prefers. Both have pros and cons.

Cassandra Nappier

3/20/2013 04:52:12 pm

Seeing that you are an Assistant Library Director, I think you may agree with me that it is somewhat sad to think that one day eBooks will be the only way to acquire a book. Kids will never experience walking into a library and smelling that odd yet recognizable smell of books. I agree that there is just something about the weight and texture of a book that allows you to understand the sense of accomplishment that you are gaining with every turn of the page.

Troy Holbrook

3/24/2013 12:28:46 pm

I had not really thought about the durability aspect of a paper book verses an e-reader. Although if we were to really stop and consider this notion, printed books have been around for millennium, whereas electronic media is a relatively new technology in the scheme of history. We should not be caught up in believing that all of our electronic media is going to stand the test of time in the same way that paper books, pictures, etc. have. As an example, look at the massive number of digital pictures that we all have taken electronically and stored on numerous devices, cameras, camcorders, cell phones, PC hard drives, and so on. Are those pictures going to be around one hundred years from now for others to enjoy? The same goes for books. Are there books out there that are strictly electronic media? What are the chances that those books will be around one hundred years from now?

Crissina Kemp

3/20/2013 07:35:10 am

I read and reviewed the article, "To Save Students Money, Colleges May Force a Switch to E-Textbooks" by Jeffrey R. Young, published in The Chronicle of Higher Education on October 24, 2010.
http://chronicle.com/article/The-End-of-the-Textbook-as-We/125044/

This article discusses e-textbooks having the possibility of becoming the next digital technology wave like music downloads were for the music industry, if colleges require students to purchase e-textbooks. Mr. Young discusses how although costs for printed textbooks have skyrocketed and caused financial hardships for students, students tend to be more conservative and prefer printed textbooks which is why colleges may have to begin requiring the purchase of e-textbooks. Some college leaders have proposed that if colleges require students to purchase e-textbooks and can control the charges for them, it can assist in limiting the possibility of digital piracy in the textbook industry.

Currently, nearly every college course requires each student to have the required textbook(s) for class, which can range anywhere for $500-$1000 per semester for a full time course load. This has lead students to search for used copies, borrow textbooks, share textbooks, and sometimes even try taking courses without a textbook which does not benefit their learning or success in courses. Since publishers only collect fees when students purchase new textbooks, they are constantly publishing updated, more expensive copies of textbooks when they are not necessarily needed. Young states the average prices for traditional textbooks rose 186% between 1986 and 2005 and continue to rise annually.

E-textbooks can be a great alternative being much cheaper to produce and purchase in bulk for colleges. This will trickle down to the student providing more accessibility for course materials and reduced educational expenses. Colleges can implement e-textbooks by charging students a reasonable course materials fee to purchase the required e-textbooks or charging an affordable flat rate ($35 per course was used in a pilot project), to purchase and download an e-textbook. For those students with a preference for hard copy textbooks, colleges can continue to offer printed copies at the current costs. The article states, e-textbooks can possibly reduce the cost of textbooks by 75-80% which would provide students a more affordable alternative for books.

Melissa Lovette

3/20/2013 11:25:09 am

The article I chose was titled "E textbooks sales growing, but students still slow to switch" by Laura Cofsky
http://www.usatodayeducate.com/staging/index.php/campuslife/e-textbook-sales-growing-but-students-still-slow-to-switch

College students admitted to being hooked onto electronic devices 24/7 however when it came to their studies many wanted that to remain low tech and keep their textbooks in print.

Vast majority of students preferred the hard copy versions of textbooks because of the following reasons:
1) the ability to go back and forth quickly in a book.
2) being able to be physically able to write and highlight in the margins.
3) preferred the smell and feel of the hard copies..
4) felt it was easier on the eyes, staring at the screen too long hurt the eyes, made studying hard.
5) students felt information is absorbed much easier through a hard book.

Benefits of E textbooks:
1) Savings: This is the biggest draw. Cheaper than their print edition counter parts and since hardcover texts are expenseive and add up when purchasing multiple texts E textbooks are slowly becoming popular.

I personally love books, the feel and the smell. However, E textbooks would be exciting to use in the classroom and I would think would be easy to have access to updated versions of the text.

Heather Carlton

3/21/2013 05:36:32 am

I wonder if a study has been done on whether students adsorb information more effectively when reading from an actual textbook compared to read from a tablet. That would be interesting to find out!

Cassandra Nappier

3/20/2013 04:43:57 pm

The article I read over eTextbooks is called, "Students Find E-Textbooks ‘Clumsy’ and Don’t Use Their Interactive Features" at the link: http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/students-find-e-textbooks-clumsy-and-dont-use-their-interactive-features/39082

The article concluded, based upon a pilot through 5 universities, that purchasing eTextbooks in bulk was indeed cheaper for students. The students, however, had difficulties navigating the books. Also, professors did not use the collaborative features that were available to them. Students who had professors that did use the features, said they enjoyed the eBooks but didn't feel as though they promoted better classroom and professor interaction. The last negative listed was the ever so old argument of professors and students who were not in tune with advancing through technology.

Out of personal experience, even if someone says that they prefer an actual textbook, they will more than likely still not purchase it. Most feel it is useless to buy a book that is rarely used. If I owned an iPad or some sort of handheld device, I would still not buy the eBook simply because I do not care to stare at a screen and am horrible for charging the batteries on portable technology.

Colie Trawick

3/22/2013 12:18:45 am

I agree with you, that I just wouldnt buy the book at all if I knew it waaqs barely going to be used. They make you buy these $300 books and we look in it maybe once...just a waste of monies. I also agree that even if the ebook is cheaper, I may hesitate to buy it if we arent going to look at it.

Heather Carlton

3/21/2013 05:08:32 am

My article: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/markets/story/2012-08-13/etextbooks/57039872/1

Some universities require students to use e-textbooks:

This article talks about how students don't seem to want to buy e-textbooks, so universities are simply forcing them. E-textbooks only account for 9% of textbooks at this point. So far, five universities have adopted a program where they make students buy e-textbooks. At Indiana University, students are automatically charged for their textbooks, so they don't have an option of not buying.

I don't think I'd appreciate if this policy were implemented at an institution I was attending. While I see some of the benefits of e-textbooks, such as saving paper and cutting costs, it's just not the same as having an actual book in hand to read and study with. I think students should have a choice as to whether they want to use e-textbooks or actual books. You don't want to negatively affect their learning/study methods by forcing them to buy an e-textbook that won't benefit them.

And not all students can afford tablets or ereaders, so what are they going to use in class when it's time to reference the book?

Armegis Spearman

3/21/2013 01:45:11 pm

I absolutely do not agree with a person being forced to buy a form of text in any way. I feel that as long as they have the proper text, it can be E books or traditional paper back. The ultimate goal is for the student to learn the proper material in a timely manner. I feel that this should be the ultimate goal when a student is getting an education. The student is paying for their education and shouldn't be forced to struggle more as long as they are meeting the requirements for graduating. This should not be based on the type of technology that you use to learn the material!

Armegis Spearman

3/21/2013 01:26:20 pm

http://www.schools.com/articles/digital-textbooks-solution-or-distraction.html

The name of the article I read is called Digital textbooks: Are they a solution or distraction? After reading more about this subject, I am not opposed to the implementation of tools such as E books. The option to save trees has to be addressed in a serious way and we all have known this for many years now. We also have to respect the wishes of those that enjoy reading a simple book and feel that they learn and retain information by this source. The convenience of the E books and all of it's capabilities have major impacts on many students and also educators that enjoy the ability to read graphs or cross-reference while doing their work.

The cost savings will be a constant debate for many and the facts will soon prove which way is the most optimal for students. This article shows different ways to break down the costs of purchase for the electronics and the e books vs the cost of paper books. I personally don't care which one is preferred or used but the option to choose should definitely be left up to the student and the parents as they are the one that will benefit or hurt from the decision. I feel that if I am not going to benefit from something, then I shouldn't be obligated to use it.

Kayla Yount

3/22/2013 01:54:21 am

The article I read can be found at http://www.nbcnews.com/id/48186058/ns/technology_and_science-back_to_school/t/pros-cons-e-readers-vs-textbooks/#.UUx8Ir-HpFI

The article lists four pros and cons of e-readers vs. textbooks. The first argument focuses around the ease of use of e-readers. The most important point that I took from this section was that they don't allow for "cognitive mapping." That is the process of using cues to remember where you saw the information in the first place. That has been one of my biggest things with e-readers, they make it so hard to go back and find what I need. Whereas in an actual textbook I can go straight to the page I remember it being on.
A large pro to e-textbooks that they point out is that with one click of a button you can have all the access you want to your book, there is no need to wait in a line at a bookstore or anywhere else. I agree that this is definitely one of the more important pros to e-textbooks, but the most important pro I think is portability. You can store all your books on one tablet, and not have to worry about stuffing a bag with two, three, four, etc. large heavy textbooks to carry around all day with you on campus.
The last point they bring up is cost. Most people think of e-textbooks to be a big budget saver, but they give examples as to how this isn't always the case.
Ultimately I think it's up to the person. There are enough pros and cons for each side. It's just up to everyone in their own which they prefer to use. I don't see them being incorporated for every individual student in schools anytime soon, because we don't have the technology budget to buy that many tablets or e-readers.

Zech Bowman

3/24/2013 01:34:25 pm

http://chronicle.com/article/As-Textbooks-Go-Digital-Will/124881/

The title of my article is "As Textbooks go Digital, Will Professors Build their own Books?" The article discusses how some college professors build their textbooks for their courses by having publishers take omit chapters and add chapters to the book based on what the professors want. Professors can even add articles of their own to the book and then choose whether to make it available as either a printed book or an ebook.

Unfortunately though, there is not a way for material from other publishers to be added and not very many professors are building books. It also make selling used copies to students difficult for publishers unless students are taking the exact course the books are designed for.

While I like the idea that the books can be built to fit the course design for the professor, but can see the trouble with it when students have trouble finding the book or even when another professor may take over the course.

For me while ebooks may be cheaper and lighter, I would rather have a physical book that I can go through and can be used for any other course that covers the same materials.

Caleby Haynes

3/25/2013 05:54:32 am

The article I chose is called Print Textbooks Vs. E-Textbooks. The link to it is http://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0912/print-textbooks-vs.-e-textbooks.aspx. This article basically describes the advantages of traditional books vs. E-Texbooks. Some of the advantages of traditional textbooks are you never have to worry about technical difficulties, most people are use to and more comfortable with traditional textbooks, and its easier to highlight notes during lectures. Some of the advantages of E-Textbooks are that they are cheaper in the long run, you don't have to worry about carrying around a bunch of heavy textbooks, and there are a bunch of extra features that can be accessed.
In my opinion at this moment I would probably choose regular textbooks, but I definitely would like to try out E-textbooks and if I could get comfortable with using them then I think they actually sound a little better, but I feel like there could be many technical difficulties that could happen.

Mary McGee

3/26/2013 01:47:55 am

My article can be found at: http://www.centralmethodist.edu:2089/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=5&sid=e75e1f33-b520-430c-9500-4a2db87def25%40sessionmgr112&hid=117

The article, as many I have found do, looks at budget and the cost for school districts wishing to move to e-books. The initial cost is the most bothersome to most districts. Some districts have seen cost decrease after the first few years as their is not the need for hardback books. Some states are mandating budget for ebooks, these states include California and Washington. However, many districts have looked at the cost of the tablets, books, increase of bandwidth as well as teacher and student education and determined that paper is cheaper and lasts longer.
At this point, my personal opinion is that we are jumping the gun on this technological advance. There are too many "ifs" to look at and too many economical factors. Many districts are working at maxed budgets and to insist that they remove budget from area programs to advance to e-books seems like a futile effort at this time.

E Textbooks

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