The
Future of Education: Textbooks vs. eBooks
New
ways to cut costs:
As the
2009 fall season rapidly approaches students, parents, and educational
institutions prepare for another academic year while publishers rush to get
their books in the bookstores.
The textbook
market has one advantage over other markets: students are required to have the
books for class. Although the used textbook market has rallied against the new,
textbook revisions and additions have made it so new textbooks still get their
share of the market.
It is no
secret that the average college student spends an arm, a leg, and the promise
of their first born child on textbooks each semester. Such expenses (and
finding ways to cut them) coupled with new technologies, have opened the door
to many publishers looking to cash in on the market.
EBooks and
print on demand technology (customized textbooks) have opened the door to a few
cost-cutting strategies that are gaining market share as they alleviate the
heavy drag on a student’s budget.
eBooks
Many educational institutions have already tested the usability
of this new technology in classrooms, with hopes of offering students a more
modern and “hands-on” method for obtaining information.
“Many
states, including California, are opting for more modern methods to disseminate
information to students, not only save money, but also to increase
sustainability efforts,” said IREX Technologies CEO, Kevin Hamilton.
The assumptions: students are a part of the younger
generation will respond better with using technology as opposed to print;
eBook/readers will be less costly than print textbooks. If these assumptions
are correct authors and publishers should consider switching to more techy methods as opposed to the print
textbooks.
The Benefits of eBooks:
EBooks have taken off in the publishing world. They have
proven beneficial to authors and readers, and the educational structures hope
they will be just as beneficial. What is so useful about an online book as
opposed to a print book in schools?
“Education has always been about receiving and processing timely
information. Wireless technologies have provided a new channel for information
sharing and a method to communicate real-time data wherever/whenever. E-reader
devices are one of the many resources available to the education community to
better the students’ experience with digesting information and the teachers’
ability to provide up-to-date content. With the advent of WiFi-enabled
e-readers, this content is easily delivered by Internet.” Said
Kevin Hamilton.
According to
Maryland high school teacher James Mascia, who
teaches 12th grade English, information offered online as opposed to
print is a better way for students to learn. “…Students will perform better
on…tests on the computer. This was proven as our average test score this year
rose a little less than 10%…I believe that the same thinking will bring about a
surge in eBooks and textbooks because the students will be more likely to
respond to the content they see on the screen than on paper.”
If students
react better to the online content than print, than schools would surely lean
toward the method that elicits better test scores. EBooks/readers also have the
advantage of being updated more frequently than print textbooks and can be
customized to each different class and teacher. Because a huge complaint about
textbooks has been that they contain much content that is not taught, an
opportunity for a teacher to customize content according to the lesson plan
seems favorable.
Textbooks
vs. eBooks:
So, what if
publishers offered such an option with print textbooks? Perhaps if a teacher
was able to tailor the content added and help compose a textbook unique to
their needs they would not look for new methods and print textbooks could
compete with eBooks/readers. There are publishers, such as Fountainhead Press,
who customize every textbook to fit the needs of each classroom. Professors
present their students with lab manuals and classroom materials that are going
to be taught. In Mr. Smiths Bio Lab, students won’t be told to skip pages
29-100, or chapters 5, 7, 9 and 11. This is a viable way of cutting waste and
cost.
EBooks seem
to be beneficial for educational purposes, but to every upside, there is a
downside. While eBooks are useful in updating content, the usability for
students does not serve as multi-purpose as print textbooks do. Some
eBooks/readers don’t offer the option of highlighting or marking text, and even
a generation that is technologically enlightened can find the adjustment to all
technology use difficult.
“…There are many hurdles
for this technology to jump before it becomes an integral part of the
day-to-day lives of students…According to our research,
students see benefits from an e-reader’s readability, weight and size, but feel
that the battery life and speed of turning pages needs improvement. A larger
(10-inch) screen that more closely resembles the size of a textbook is also
preferred…(and) the ability to add notes or highlight
text is crucial on a device…” said Kevin Hamilton.
EBook/reader
developers are picking up on student feedback and such highlighting, and
note-taking features are being implemented in the devices. Maybe like most
modern inventions, as the device is perfected the popularity will rise and
eBooks will be the demise of print textbooks.
“…In many classes,
(textbooks) will be supplemented with a great deal of online content. My school
has no plans as of this moment to go totally over to eBooks; however, I see
that being the future,” said James Mascia.
Should publishers and authors even bother to recreate the way
textbooks are offered, or should they simple jump on the bandwagon of
electronic books? According to our advisors the future of textbooks is glum and
as our society presses forward with technological advances, the old ways
will be pushed out by the new, more convenient and cost efficient methods. But
would the suggested changes to print textbooks save publishers and authors money as well as students? The cost of textbooks
would certainly go down if adjustments were made.
The
Cost of EBooks:
In the 2008- 2009 academic year college students on
average spent almost $1,000 in textbook costs. Perhaps the greatest need in
this economic hurdle is for a cheaper option than print textbooks and in theory
the idea of eBooks/readers is a cheaper route.
“This cost places quite a burden on students each year, so it is
not surprising there has been a buzz in the higher education sector regarding
the use of e-readers in the classroom, which could ultimately result in the
dramatic reduction or even the end of traditional textbooks,” said Kevin
Hamilton.
At this rate students are looking for any way to opt out
of purchasing textbooks, making the concept of more eBooks appealing. But just
how big are the differences of cost in eBooks vs. print textbooks? According to Professor Josh Smith of the Business department at
Bluffton University in Ohio, not that big.
“I think that eBooks have a greater potential to catch
on…if the cost decreases and portability/ease of use increases. I've
found over the past year even when an eBook version is offered at 50-60% of the
hard copy version students are concerned about their ability to use it anywhere
and keep notes with it. Additionally since they cannot resell the book students
are more likely to buy hardcover and sell at half price to get the same end
price… I think the high school market has a higher probability of being the
fore-runner (which will eventually push college acceptance) due to the fact
that districts could shoulder the cost when they provide the students with
books.”
What the future holds for Textbooks:
Maybe the future of
textbooks could be saved if publishers and authors take advantage of the issues
being exposed by the more advanced methods. If publishers and authors customize
textbooks for teachers and professors based on their individual needs, and cut
out the extra pages, the cost of print textbooks could go down, solving
the expense problem. After all, why would anyone want to pay for something they
won’t use?
If there isn’t a willingness to make the necessary
changes to print textbooks, then the adoption of technological methods seems
logical. Only time will tell which method will thrive… or should we say
survive?
