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Distance education and online learning have always been considered unconventional, and the opportunities brought on by that lack of convention is what separates schools like Penn Foster from traditional, brick-and-mortar schools. With that in mind, it is not surprising that the tools used in distance learning have also taken a turn towards the nontraditional, making online learning options a place for cutting-edge education technology where new delivery methods can be taken up and experimented with much quicker than in campus-based classrooms. Perhaps the most landscape-changing advancement for students and teachers alike is the advent of digital textbooks, and combined with the rise in popularity of e-Readers and tablets, many are asking whether the textbook—the most basic tool in education for decades—may soon be a thing in of the past.
In this thoughtful and progressive article, recent advancements in digital textbooks and reading technology are seen as a positive contribution to education. Digital textbooks are often much less expensive than inflated physical textbook prices, and some companies allow students to download chapters as PDF files for as little as $1.99. For teachers, the ability to edit chapters line-by-line to better fit the course material is seen as a step forward in digital learning technology, and providing students with the option to purchase digital textbooks serves as a great way to make sure all students purchase the textbook in some capacity, digital or physical.
Although not all classrooms have adopted digital textbooks, keep in mind that this advancement is fairly recent. Have you had any experience with digital textbooks? Do you prefer them to physical copies? Leave us a comment and let us know what you think!
Although I am all for being green and moving forward in technology, I need a physical hard copy in my hand so I can highlight, write notes, ect. I haven't worked with digital textbooks and I know there are several pros, but it's just not for me.
As an Enrollment Advisor and current student (B.S. Business Management) at Penn Foster, I prefer having both the digital and print options.
The digital option allows me to search using keywords but reading from a computer screen for extended periods of time gives me headaches. The print version allows me to mark pages with sticky notes, highlighters, etc that I find easier to navigate with my fingers instead of a mouse or keypad.
Also, I can use both the computer screen and book at the same time to muli-task and reference multiple pages.
PF Enrollment Advisor Mike
I travel a lot and an eReader is perfect in my case. I did have a Kindle but now I have an iPad with the Kindle app on it as well as a pdf reader. With pdf files you can highlight and create notes. I am not sure about highlighting in the Kindle but you can create notes for sure. Another nice thing with the Kindle is that you can click on a word and it will take you to that word in the dictionary which can be very handy at times. I have the text books from the EET program on my iPad and easily carry my entire course using very little of the available memory. As long as I have a scratch pad and calculator (which my iPad also has) then I can do my coursework on the plane, in the car, at the office wherever. I still use the hardcopies as well but could easily go paperless.
I don't mind digital textbooks,it's far more less hassle for student to carry around. However, before this can even be spread out to everyone, there should be an e-book that even a poor family can afford.