How do other students feel about textbooks?
With developing technology in the classroom, students are more inclined
to want to use a laptop for notes, or use their IPhones for attendance, and
the teachers are more apt to use online attendance points and
participation, or to edit their notes by drawing on them, etc... This
developing classroom style of teaching for college students is what has
led many more publishers and authors to increase the technology
company’s paychecks by creating more eBooks, aimed to adding onto the
technology factor inside and outside of the classroom. However, are they
more effective and useful to students? Do they put more strain on the eyes
of students since they are constantly on technology? Does eBooks go well
with being able to take notes and complete homework assignment? What
type of classes work better with eBooks or textbooks? This and many more
is why the debate on eBooks vs textbooks is something to talk about
among students.
The debate on eBooks vs textbooks has a major impact on who buys which
more and which ones the buyer prefer. In regards to University of Kentucky
students, as an example, a survey taken on a total of fifty-three (53) students,
ranging from different years, majors, and extracurricular activities, shows
that even as technology is increasing in everyday life, this including the
classrooms, most students still prefer textbooks over eBook. This might seem
shocking since classroom are heading more technology based, so why are
students staying more “old-fashioned” when it comes to reading materials?
Forty-one (41) students out of fifty-three (53) preferred a textbook. These
students also specifically preferred a textbook for science and math classes,
which was another question asked. When asked if price affected this opinion,
the difference was not astronomical, as many might think it would be. Only t
hirty-two (32) said yes while twenty-one (21) said no, that the price affects their
opinion. This shows that few students are led to believe that textbooks are the
cheaper option. However, many eBooks are offered in bundles with online homework,
making them cheaper and more accessible. On the other hand, textbooks are
able tobe sold back to gain some of the money back, whereas eBooks are not
able too. Thisis gone into more detail in the financial section of this website.
Based off of these preferences from University of Kentucky students, it gives an
insight to how some students think on this debate. It may seem that many students
prefer textbooks to be able to highlight, annotate, and underline, but in the survey
twenty-five (25) out of fifty-two (52) did not say that this affected their choice in any
way. This helps to show that many students like having something to hold, flip t
hrough pages at ease, and be able to have two pages open at once. There are
some exceptions to this however. In interviews with other students, shown below,
two (2) out of five (5) expressed why they prefer eBooks over textbooks, and the
difference they have found in eBooks.
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Here are five interviews with students from the University of Kentucky on which they prefer for their studies and what they have found to be beneficial for them over their few years. They were asked the same questions, but as you read each has a different take on why they choose a certain way and what to back it up on:
Morgan, Sophomore, Biology
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Since you prefer textbooks, what do you find so appealing about them?
“I prefer textbooks because I can flip through them easier to find the material I'm looking for. Also, they are a nice break from looking at a screen all day. In addition, I take most of my notes on my laptop so if I have to keep switching screens, it becomes more difficult and time consuming to read for each class.”
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During your own research, what one, eBooks, vs textbooks, so you find to be cheaper?
“Ebooks tend to be cheaper but if you rent or buy used textbooks, the price of a tangible textbook becomes almost equal to or less than the price of an eBook.”
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What class(es) would you recommend using a textbook over an eBook for? Why?
“I would recommend textbooks for any class that you would be reading and taking notes. As well as math classes because you have the opportunity to look at the example and the problem you are working on at the same time.”
Jake, Freshman, Computer Engineering
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Since you prefer textbooks, what do you find so appealing about them?
“I prefer textbooks over eBooks for a few different reasons. It's easier on my eyes to read rather than looking on a computer screen for long periods of time. Also, I find it much easier to flip back and forth quickly with a physical textbook and I can mark certain words, phrases, or page numbers more easily and conveniently with the textbook option. There are highlighting and other editing software’s available to take notes on eText but it's not as appealing or accessible as just scratching pen on paper.”
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During your own research, what one, eBooks, vs textbooks, so you find to be cheaper?
“I have found eBooks to be cheaper for the most part mainly due to the fact that they don't require any physical recourses in order to produce and sell them. There's no manufacturing or shipping costs. It's just one click and you have it. Also, it is easier to rent eBooks for a certain period of time, for example a chemistry textbook for a semester, and then return it after you're done using it. This is much more appealing than having to buy an enormous and expensive textbook that you might use a couple times during a semester and then never touch again.”
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What class(es) would you recommend using a textbook over an eBook for? Why?
“The class I would most recommend for textbooks are probably English or history classes since these classes typically involve the most reading material traditionally. From personal experience with math and science books, I've found that the majority of the time spent in a textbook was just looking at the problem sets or formulas rather than actually reading the material in depth. eBooks would be fine for this kind of purpose, but in terms of in depth reading classes, I think physical textbooks would be a better option.”
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Dawson, Sophomore, Neuroscience
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Since you prefer textbooks, what do you find so appealing about them?
“I find eBooks appealing do to its availability since as long as you have access to something that can access the internet then you can access your eBook in some way and don't have to worry about copies in a way. Then for its ability to search words and define things in an instant.”
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During your own research, what one, eBooks, vs textbooks, so you find to be cheaper?
“Most college text books tend to be cheaper as an eBook.”
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What class(es) would you recommend using a textbook over an eBook for? Why?
“I'd recommend it for science classes so you can quick search to a problem or explanation in the book while you work on homework.”
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Collin, Freshman, Business
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Since you prefer textbooks, what do you find so appealing about them?
“I can get easily distracted looking at the screen. Easy outlets to other things(YouTube).”
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What class(es) would you recommend using a textbook over an eBook for? Why?
“Classes that I would recommend for a textbook would be science classes (chem, physics) because they hard stuff to learn and master.”
Obie, Senior, Environmental Engineering
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Since you prefer textbooks, what do you find so appealing about them?
“E-Books are absolutely better than any other book. To start, one does not have to carry a large amount of weight around, especially if they have more than one book. One simply needs to have a tablet or electronic device and carry that around to access the book. Another amazing feature on eBooks would be the search option. Instead of looking in an index for page numbers, they just need to type in the word they are looking for and find that page much quicker than before. The final great thing about having eBooks is the environmental factor. Instead of wasting all of that paper and ink and space, we can just use the electric to power our devices and have them all in one place.”
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During your own research, what one, eBooks, vs textbooks, so you find to be cheaper?
“E-Books are by far the cheaper way to go. I don’t know what the scrubs of the world are doing, but I have always found a free pdf version of my books and I get them for free. You just can’t beat the old fashioned free version of a book when you are in college. I mean, who would be dumb enough to actually buy a hardback book to make your back hurt as you walk to the class you are already spending thousands of dollars for? But seriously though, eBooks are always cheaper because they don’t have to actually print them.”
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What class(es) would you recommend using a textbook over an eBook for? Why?
“Well, I would recommend using an eBook over a textbook for any class as long as they have the electronic version of that book. The only time I buy hardbacks is if I don’t have the electronic version available to me and if I absolutely need the textbook for homework or class assignments. In the end of the day, if the electronic version of a book is available, get that every time so you don’t have to pay out of your mind and you don’t have to suffer the experiences of past generations, also known as the old people of the world.”