Review of a journal article

Digital Textbooks: The Next Paradigm Shift in Higher Education? By Kelly Heider, Deanna Laverick, and Bethany Bennett


http://www.editlib.org/f/27054


"As students gain more control over their learning, they also want to have more control over the tools that guide their learning."

The author states that we are now using a "learning paradigm" which is more student oriented that the previous teacher-centered approach. The author believes that using traditional textbooks is no longer useful. These books are not conducive in a student centered learning environment. The article discusses the history of textbooks and the rising price of college textbooks. The author states that since digital textbooks are cheaper and can be updated more frequently more professors should use them. The authors also sited a study done at State University of New York at Stony Brook, technology and the use of DVD versions of the textbooks were used in a human evolution and history class. The results were positive. Digital textbooks would also be helpful for students with special needs. The print could be adjusted very quickly for a student with a visual impairment.

I understand where the author is coming from. My son and daughter will probably be using digital textbooks by the time they are in college. I guess I have mixed feelings about digital textbooks. I see there usefulness, but I am an older student and I feel that I cannot read text from a computer screen. I need a hard copy. I need to look at the paper and take notes. Every time I have to research something I print out the information. I even printed out this article to do this entry. If this is a cheaper alternative, I of course am on board.