As technology continues to advance, students are beginning to have their own technology devices with them all the time in school. This begs the question: is there really a need for students to be issued hard copy textbooks when most of them are available online?
According to “No More Lengthy lines for books,” the sale of online textbooks allow for book sellers to offer 40 percent off textbook sale prices. Students have the convenience of ordering their books at home, online, knowing that they will be available at their leisure when ordering their hard copy textbooks.
“We use online textbooks when we can. I teach three classes, our statistics book is not online, the functions and trigonometry book isn’t either, but the pre calculus book is,” math teacher Nathan Porter said. “I think that the ideal scenario, assuming it’s not a big price issue, is to have both so students have options,” Porter said.
“Online Textbooks Replace Heavy Load” stated the Gwinnett school district has saved about $325,00 in this year’s pilot, because ebooks are often cheaper than print books. Digital books won’t replace traditional books anytime soon though. It’s still hard to get kids who don’t have their own computers at home, textbooks are still in need from many students.
“The science department uses online textbooks to some extent. The freshman physics classes don’t have an online textbook, but we’ve had an online PDF that they can download,” science teacher Renate Fiora said. “My AP Physics class does have an online text of their book. It’s nice that they have that, because those books are really heavy, so it’s nice that they don’t have to carry it around with them all the time.”
Stated in “Computer Access Turns The Page on Textbooks,” they help students avoid injuries from overstuffed backpacks. People concerned prompted Plymouth-Canton Community Schools to use more technology, because school officials were concerned students could hurt their backs lugging all of their books around.
“I only like the hard copy textbooks be cause I can use them when I don’t have access to wifi and on the bus. I would use both online and hard copy if I had access to them,” sophomore Nick Gabrielson said. “I’ve already seen textbooks get motioned out, so I have a feeling that the school is going to phase them out by them self.”
According to “Laptops are an Essential Educational Tool,” computers have become as essential educational tool and should be provided by the public school system. Just as public education funded textbooks when they were deemed essential to learning, textbook funds should now be used to fund the public schools technology departments.
Laptop computers will help students and teachers take advantage of all the internet has to offer, reduce textbook costs, and possibly give students who do not have computers at home access to the internet at home after school.
“I feel like it’s mandatory for us to get textbooks in class. All of my classes have given out textbooks for us to use, and there is always an online option to use,” senior Tully Morrison said. “I like to have the hard, physical copy and the same with the homework too. Personally I like the hard copy because I’m able to manage it better and you can do it without wifi. I’d rather carry around the textbooks than strain my eyes looking at a screen.”