Teaching ‘Wired’ Kids and the Digital Textbook Debate
Digital textbooks have been a hot topic this back-to school season.
The new books, also referred to as “e-textbooks” (available for viewing on a desktop/laptop, or via proprietary reader like the Kindle), promise to bring cost efficiencies and educational benefits to school systems but the new technology has caused quite a stir among academia. Adding fuel to the debate, digital publisher CourseSmart recently released an iPhone application that allows students to read their library of textbooks on the go. However, the jury is still out on whether digital textbooks are an educational boon or a prime example of building technology because we can, not because we should.
Examining the growing influence of digital technologies on education is no short order. In classic academia style, the topic of digital textbooks has provoked intense discussion amongst educators- as both sides man the trenches in the classic battle of tradition vs. progression.
Two articles on the topic recently surfaced on Mashable and the New York Times, each providing contrarian perspectives on the phenomenon and implication of digital textbooks. Here are some excerpts and key points from each:
From “Digital Textbooks: 3 Reasons Students Arent’ Ready” (Mashable)
- Cost Savings Must Be Greater- “cost savings for electronic textbooks are minuscule” (assuming the electronic version is automatically deleted)
- A Standard Format Is Needed- Kindle vs. Sony reader vs. CourseSmart and lack of compatibility will surely cause inefficiencies
- Questions of Ownership- automatic (and, in one example, remote) deleting of e-textbooks from Kindle readers; user notes can be potentially damaged or erased
From “In A Digital Future, Textbooks Are History” (New York Times):
- “Kids are…digitally nimble. They multitask, transpose, and extrapolate. And they think of knowledge as infinite.” (taken from Sheryl R. Abshire, chief technology officer, Calcasieu Parish school system)
- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this summer announced an initiative that would replace some high school science and math texts with free, “open source” digital versions
- “In five years, I think the majority of students will be using digital textbooks,” said William M. Habermehl, superintendent of Orange County schools. “They can be better than traditional textbooks.” Schools that do not make the switch, Mr. Habermehl said, could lose their constituency
Interesting stuff, isn’t it? Of course, in addition to the scholastic and technological, other factors must be considered to validate the success of digital textbooks, the most apparent being socioeconomic (it remains to be seen whether the eventual adoption of digital textbooks will expand or contract the learning gap between different socioeconomic groups).
Ultimately, to pass judgment on e-textbooks is premature- common ground needs to be established between developers, textbook authors & publishers, educators, and students to develop quality control, best practices, new teaching techniques, etc. Longitudinal studies will need to assess what effect digital textbooks haveon actual learning.
Compared with other initiatives and platforms that are attempting to modernize the learning process, the odds of the broad adoption of digital textbooks in our education system seem quite high and the potential is great. With digital textbooks, the possibilities for interactive exercises, social learning opportunities, and cross-referenced learning is certainly tantalizing. Imagine an English class where the teacher and students can share margin notes with each other or discuss a chapter as they read along at home. Imagine how the connections between subjects and current events could be brought to life through an active textbook.
Although gradual, once the process is perfected (likely through trial-and-error), the advent of digital textbooks may prove to be the cherry on top for educating the future “post-fact society.”
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Xethorn…
I tried a notebook and a textbook and the result is: not adapted to read for a long time. While studies imply reading, writing to memorize this kind of support isn’t adapted.
The memorization process requires different stimulations which can’t be realized by watching on a screen and simply reading. You’re stimulating the entertainment area.
You need more focus and concentration. That’s why when students are in public transportation they don’t read books, they’re playing video games, messaging their friends while they’re talking to people around.
Hopefully, the digital books won’t be like websites otherwise I really wish good luck to the future students who are going to lost themselves in the labyrinth of data
Sam…
Nice post. Thank you for bringing this heated debate to our attention. I find this new trend to be pretty sad. Replacing textbooks with digital copies in my opinion takes away from the joy of reading and learning. Although great in theory, your mention of sharing margin notes at home with others in my opinion does exactly that. It takes away from in-class discussions which is often the forum where students learn the most. From a more neurological perspective the engagement of different senses affects learning as well. Turning pages and visualizing a book increases learning and visual memorization. On some books I still remember on which side of book a certain quote was. I am sure some of the readers of this blog share this feeling as well. I know that I wouldn’t replace my bookcase with a kindle. I would miss the memories I get when looking at a book I read a long time ago and remember the impact it had on me. From “The Stranger” to “Me Talk Pretty One Day”, I would miss seeing them.
Brian…
@Sam: I love reading paper books as well. The feel, the smell, the whole experience. And while I’d certainly miss it if it disappeared, I’m not sure a digital book would “take away the joy of reading and learning.”
As for whether social notes would ruin reading, I don’t know that they would. Not if they’re done correctly, anyway. I always enjoyed buying used textbooks with notes in the margins because they helped stimulate my analysis of the book. Teachers would need to be trained to use the technology correctly, like any other tool.
Your point about tactile stimulation and it’s ties to learning and memory are completely valid, and I’m curious to see this empirically tested, but the facts are we (and in particular, digital youth) do learn a significant amount from the internet and digital technologies. The real question for me is are we digitizing textbooks because it’s better for learning or because it’s cheaper for politicians?
I’m not worried about our paperbacks. Those sales will be dictated by the market. As long as enough of us are still willing to pay for words on dead trees, they’ll keep printing them.
Sam…
@Brian: I don’t think it will ruin the reading experience but I believe it will take some enjoyment out of it. As you mentioned the feel, the smell. I too enjoy buying old books and see margin notes. I’ve always found them challenging. And I completely agree with you that if it were to head in the direction of digitizing textbooks that teachers/professors would have to be properly educated/trained in using the technology correctly.
As for the politicians you are correct and I am not taking The Terminator’s comments too seriously nor the OC’s superintendent. California has a fantastic grad and post grad system but their schools are far from perfect.
Ebyan…
Videogames instead of playing outside.
Digital books instead of words on a tangible page.
The magic is gone.
Bryanna Turner…
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