Electronic Textbook Survey

We asked the students at the Saskatoon Catholic Cyber School to tell us what they thought of electronic textbooks...this was their answer

Comments

• i think it would be neat


• I think that it would take a while for schools to save money by using digital textbooks. I also think that there is a benifit to having hard-bound textbooks.


• Cyber Textbooks are good for storing on computers for study when you don't have access to or cannot take a beefy school text book.


• Digital textbooks would be for digital classes...I'd be quite mad if a teacher made us access a digital textbooks instead of just handing real ones out.


• For some subjects textbooks are a must, i am not too sure if electronic textbooks would be very handy, you would have to keep flicking back and forth from page to page on your computer. Where as a real textbook you can have open in front of you plus your assignment on the computer. It just makes for sense to have real textbooks.


• i think digital textbooks would be beneficial, but i also thinking using hard bound textbooks are also beneficial.


• i think that there should be a balance not all electronic not all regular


• It would be kind of cool to have an electronic textbook, but in the same sense to I do like paper because than I can take it outside to read.


• Electronic textbooks would be a great idea as it would save money. However, I think a few copies of hard bound text books would be needed in case of a power outage. What would the students do when they couldn't work???


• I like turning the pages of a real book.


• Using eletronic text books would not save money cause i need to use money to run these books with, like batterries or i am not to sure but it will be very costly but also very cool. I have had this idea that as your desk..would have it own flat computer touch screen whre u would do all your work. With these desks, the teachers would be able to look at what your doing and examine it easily.


• Textbook online are not always good, it makes it hard to flip back and front from pages to pages. But on the plus side electonic textbooks would save money and trees.


• Electronic textbooks would be annoying because you'd always need a computer. Sometimes reading on the computer is not fun... it strains your eyes. And what would we use as textbooks when we were all in school?


• The idea of digital text books can be a good idea, but I think it could cause problems if students didn't have access to a computer to use them.


• Hard bound Pro - Easy to get information fast without having to go on the computer. Con- out dated information, not good for enviroment Digital Pro- Better for enviro, the informatioon can be updated when needed. Con- not every body has access to a computer when ever they want.


• I think the paper textbooks should be kept.


• I think that electronic textbooks, while a good idea cannot totally substitute print textbooks because a) one has to consider the means of delivery of the electronic textbook, whether it be online or through some sort of E-book reader. If it is through an e-book reader then a change to electronic textbooks will cost the school more. Also, the school will have to keep track of further equipment inventory consuming further resources for maintenance, replacement, storage, and tracking of said inventory. If, on the other hand, digital online textbooks are used, one has to consider that students may not consistently have access to a network-capable computer. In this case students will print off copies of the pages they need to, thus using the paper that would have been used anyways, in some cases more paper could be used as printed pages can be lost and then reprinted, thus using more paper and, ultimately costing more. Also, with an online system, a content distribution network must be created along with an administration backend and a user frontend, which will also cost money, time and space. So really, I think that electronic textbooks can be a bit of a double-edged sword; on the one hand, having electronic textbooks saves the paper initially, but in the long run can actually use more paper than the textbook. On the other hand, an e-book reader type textbook would cost more initially, but could eventually pay for itself in reducing the amount of textbook damage. Of course, damage to an e-book reader and asscotiated costs can be forwarded to the student responsible for said damage. Also, an advantage of an e-book reader type setup is that one could load multiple textbooks onto one reader, thus saving space and weight in book storage. Also, another factor to be considered is having the students receive an e-book reader in exchange for a deposit at the start of their high school career and maintain it through until the end of their career at which point the e-book reader will be returned and the student will be refunded their deposit.


• This is a very interesting concept and im excited to learn more about it!


• electric textbooks may make it easier to find certian things with in it


• I would like to believe that some sort of physical medium is always required. A virtual system would create a virtual concept among students. When students, given this concept, are faced with real world situations, may find it hard to adapt their electronically learned knowledge to things that have substance. The gap between the pen and the plow is already great, how much greater will it be from the pixel?


• not sure if cost of having lots of computers to use would be cheaper but maybe because they have to return text books people don't bring back


• Textbooks of any kind helps.


• I don't really understand what a "digital text book" is, so that affected my answers.


• Text books will alwasy be needed in schools.


• I think electronic texts book would be easier to transport.


• I think textbooks are very useful and especially helpful for the teachers.


• I think that electronic textbooks would be great if they are feesable and easy to use. They should also be VERY durable and well made.


• Yes electronis textbooks are a good plan.


• I haven't had the opportunity to use electronic text books as i havent yet started my online course


• I have a hard time reading things electronically so I end up printing them out anyways.


• --all digital would be easier to update, distribute etc--save cost


• i think this is a very good idea


• I like to use hard cover texts books while using an online one too. It helps give a perspective from two different angles.


• I believe that you should have electronic texts available for those taking Cyber classes as we are already paying for the course and then have to buy the texts as well.


• hopes that hard bound text boks are quickly replaced by electronic textbooks


• I think electronic textbooks would be better for students


• I think having a text book whether online or a hard cover would be really helpful. I am currently using my brothers Chem 20 txt and it is really helpful. It gives another perspective on things than just what the teacher is teaching.


• there a alright idea but some people just feel more relaxed with a book


• Electronic textbooks would be such a great way to Go Green and still keep education standards high!


• I think electronic textbooks would be both good and bad. They would save money in the long run, but it would be another thing we would have to learn how to use.


• I don't think having a laptop with you going to every class is any better than bringing a text book. Plus there would be more cheating and such if you could go on the internet whenever you felt like it.


• we would still need hard-bound textbooks because what if something happened to the computers it would really save us troubles


• i think that electronic text books would save money in the long run becuase text books have to be remade or refurbished in order to keep using them. it would reduce costs becuase there are text books for every class and in high school some classes are in two part A & B and text books are needed for each individual class. a lot of people might start with negative thoughts on this topic about vandilism to the electronic books, but if monitored that can be controlled, and each book could be programmed to contain every class taken in that specific school by each specific student. if the students had to do a daily inspection in the last few minutes of class that would reduce vandilism and encourage respectful handling and if each student had to use the same ETB all year then you would know who defaced it.


• The use of paper textbooks and electronic is necessary


• hard covered text books are good. You can high light main parts for studying, and is a great way of joting notes down


• I do think electronic text would save some money, but I don't think all text should be electronic. There are many people would like to work outside school and don't even have a computer. It is also believe books have more value, and having physical contact is some times better!!


• Textbooks are useful but not up to date


• For question number two, I answered not sure. The reason being is, that it would be unfair to have digital text books if a student did not have access to a computer, or if they did not have the right amount of time to work on the computer.


• hardcover textbooks are really heavy. they are no fun to bring home and then back to school...


• Textbooks that you can touch and read are useful.


• I think text books are good in school but elecrtonic ones would be easier to maintain and not cost so much money.


• I think text books are necessary in schools, and are used often.


• Textbooks are cool


• what is the digital textbook?


• I think that this would be an interesting thing to try if even for one class or an entire year and see how it goes from there


• By having electronic textbooks, students would be able to access newer information. For example, the textbooks we used in a level 30 science class were over 8 years old. Therefore, we are learning old information what is not updated.