2008 Woodie Awards
Professors see digital textbooks as future alternative
Teachers embrace e-books' interactivity, but some students prefer hardcover
By: Matt Woolbright
Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: News
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"As a group, we decided to [switch to primarily an e-book]," said chemistry senior lecturer Vickie Williamson. "The money was the driving factor; the cost to the students was most on our mind."
An e-book is an electronic copy of any printed material, usually in an online-accessible, searchable format. They are normally equipped with software to help with review sessions.
"After doing a review question, if the student gets the answer wrong, the e-book automatically brings up the section discussing the problem," Williamson said.
Teachers have used surveys and have talked to students to determine the overall level of student satisfaction. While classes typically have a positive reaction, some students found that the e-books are difficult to navigate and do not make the subject easier to learn.
"When we asked them if they liked it, the reaction was always very positive," Williamson said. "The few complaints I've gotten have been resolved, and most have been technology related."
Some students prefer the print copy to the digital version. "From those I have talked to [in Chemistry], they don't like it," said sophomore biomedical engineering major Matthew Rosner. "Many have gone out and bought the hardcopy like I have."
"Many of my classmates in [Math] 166 really dislike it," said freshman biology major Jimmy Wiedenfeld.
Complaints among students range from accessibility to ease of use and difficulty learning the material with the e-book. In some situations, it comes down to personal preference.
Freshman business major Bryan McCollum said he has not used an e-book, but is against the concept. He said he does not look forward to having a class with an e-book as the primary textbook.
"I would hate to have an e-book," McCollum said. "I want my books to be available to me when the Internet or my computer is not; I don't want my studying dependent on technology."
Junior kinesiology major Monika McCown does not like the electronic format either, for multiple reasons.
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