E-TEXTBOOKS VS THE CONVENTIONAL TEXTBOOK

Alexa Capeloto’s article titled “HowE-textbooks, Online Modules Could Keep Journalism Education Current” spurred many questions in my head.

Firstly, I would express the preference of students, be it E-textbooks or the conventional one. Then, I would provide my own opinions and thought to this matter.

Statistics have shown that though there is an increase in online modules and E-textbooks, students find it harder to accept this new trend as compared to other emerging trends like reading news through the internet.

Example of Print Textbook

Source: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jDgBRNQyPlk/TjmrszRDYbI

Example of E-book

Source: http://www.prlog.org/11534825-ipad-ebook-publishing-services.jpg

According to Anderson (2010), a research conducted from the National Association of College Stores (NACS) showed:

• “74% of college students preferred print over digital.”
• “56% out of the 13% who purchased electronic books only did so because the course required.”

Woody, Daniel & Baker (2010) expressed in their article that:

• “The experience of reading e-books is not equivalent to reading textbooks.”
• “Students still preferred using print texts for learning.”
• “Although hyperlinks are available in e-books, report shows that students were not more likely use it.”
• “The ‘Strengths’ of the e-books like strong visual and interactive elements are not used to their full potential by the participants of this survey.”

Waters(2011) wrote that the Book Industry Study Group Survey (BISG) showed:

• “75% of college students prefer the ‘feel’ of reading from printed texts’
• “only a mere 12% of survey participants preferred e-books”

Nielsen’s(2010) research on ipad usability showed:

• “there is an improvement in the apps”
• “new and emerging usability problems are found for example the navigation overload”
• “reading experience still does not exceed the reading from PC monitors”

According to Nielsen (2010) from the usability survey between the ipad and the kindle, both mediums are found to be less appealing than reading from actual books.

I truly believe that if the ipad and kindle reading experience has not improved, there will be a slower growth in the chances of people adapting to reading e-books. The trend of e-books and online module will still increase through its numerous benefits, but it all ultimately boils down to the preference of most readers. Perhaps, the old may still be the best. 

Reference List

Anderson, K 2010, Do Students Really Prefer Print Books to E-Books?, Scholarly Kitchen, viewed 11 November 2011, <http://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2010/11/03/students-prefer-print-books-to-e-books-not-because-of-the-medium/>

Capeloto, A 2011,  How E-textbooks, Online Modules Could Keep Journalism Education Current, PBS- Media Shift, viewed 11 November 2011, <http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2011/08/how-e-textbooks-online-modules-could-keep-journalism-education-current237.html>

Nielsen, J 2010, Ipad and Kindle Reading Speeds, Use It, viewed 11 November 2011, <http://www.useit.com/alertbox/ipad-kindle-reading.html>

Waters, A 2011, Survey Finds College Students Prefer Their Textbooks in Print, Hacked Education, News, viewed 11 November 2011, <http://www.hackeducation.com/2011/01/07/survey-finds-college-students-prefer-their-textbooks-in-print/>

Woody, W.D., Daniel , D.B., & Baker, C.A 2010, ‘E-Books or Textbooks: Students Prefer Textbooks’, Journal of Computers & Education, Vol. 55, No.1, pp. 945-848.