One Prof's Ponderings, Predictions, and Proclimations

Today was the first day of faculty meetings and workshops before the school year starts up.  As I had written in a previous post, I look forward to the first day of school, primarily because I get to see my friends that I have not seen all year.  Between meetings me and a couple of my colleagues were talking some shop (often teaching, technology, and complaining) and Dr. Robson said that she was being interviewed by a journalist from the Sioux City journal about the use of electronic textbooks.  I said that I often will suggest to students about this often cheaper option and she invited me to the interview.

This was my first interview with a member of the media.  It went pretty well and generally both Dr. Robson and I feel positively about the use of electronic books.  Yes they do come with their downsides but generally they serve their purpose as well as a traditional paper book.  This semester I have decided to see how many of my students choose to use an electronic version of the book and to ask their opinions of their experience with this form of the book.

There are those that are very anti-electronic books, and they do have some valid points.  But generally e-books are a great way for students to save some money and to be able to use unique features such as electronic searches (vs. looking something up in an index) and access to more up-to-day materials and link to pertinent sites.

E-books can potentially provide more flexibility for students, but I choose to allow students the option to use either format they prefer.  I can see the e-book becoming more popular with college students, but I honestly do not believe that print is necessariy dead.  There are still enough people who prefer a physical book in their hands than a computer or kindle in their laps.  But as instructors we should keep this option available for our students.