Ever since I was in middle school, the number of textbooks I had to fit in my locker, back pack, or car seemed to grow exponentially. In college, I (or really my parents) broke the bank for the many textbooks I had to juggle for each class. I had so many that I have to admit I would accidentally take the wrong book to class at least once a week.
They were costly, too. Hundreds of dollars for one book, three or four books per course…that adds up. Seeming like a rite of passage, any movie from “The Dead Poets Society” to “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder” featured students lugging around a backpack of valuable “goods.”
But things started changing by my senior year of college. Wireless devices and eBooks were infiltrating their way into eLearning. For instance, in one class we were able to take notes, highlight, use flash cards, and create outlines all via online textbooks that were a fraction of the price of the “real thing.” My back hurt less and so did my wallet.
eLearning is likely to continue making strides to improve student life. In a study by Pearson Foundation, 63% of college students and 69% of high school students were found to believe that traditional textbooks will be phased out within five years. Also, 86% of college students who own a tablet believe that it has significantly improved their learning.
According to a recent article in Reuters, publishers are starting to recognize the value of digital textbooks for their own profitability as well. Last year, 27% of the profits of textbooks came from online products. The market for textbooks is still complicated due to the options of traditional books, eBooks, renting books, reselling, etc. Additionally, students today are still transforming their idea of what would be best for them in terms of understanding the material and succeeding in class. Professors are beginning to realize the benefits of wireless learning. Now, digital technology helps monitor their students’ performance each day they assign reading instead of just after each test. The tools that come along with eLearning and digital textbooks are going to differentiate them within the growing market.
In ten years, the projections look good for the relationship between wireless and learning. For now, students, parents, and teachers need to be open to digital textbooks as an innovative learning experience. Digital and online textbooks made only a fraction of a difference in my school experience, but I’m sure the story they’re going to write for tomorrow’s students will be a real page turner, one click or swipe at a time.
Please help spread the word: