E-learning with E-books

Would life be easier, if we had all our textbooks on an e-reader/computer?  There are many different E-readers;   the Nook, the Kindle, iPhone, or just your regular laptop.   Anyone who has a smart phone can get their books on their phones, if it is downloaded for your Nook/Kindle.  It’s the new way of learning

  I don’t know anyone that would not want a cheaper way to buy books,   and with the added benefit of not carrying around 30 pounds in your backpack.

Advantages of an E-book:

• It's lighter to carry;
• Less expensive; 
• More compact, you can have all your books on one computer instead of carrying 6 or 7 books;
• You can still highlight any important information;
• Look up words quickly you are unsure of the meaning;
• Weight on anyone's back is terrible; less weight less back problems. 

Class	Regular Book	E-book
Writing 227	$106.00	$46.00
Psychology 201	$140.40	$65.25
Geology	$104.00	$33.10

Every college student is trying to save money anywhere they can, and this is a great way to keep a few more bucks in your pocket for the things you really need.

There are a few tradeoffs for using an e-book, if you happen to fail your class or end up having to re-take it the next term you will have to purchase your e-book again as e-books are only good for 180 days.

Not all titles are available this year through LBCC bookstore, but there is a variety.  Barns and Nobel and other bookstores also have the option to get e-books.

Things to think about, the e-book's that LBCC offer are not compatible with the Nook or Kindle.  If purchasing from our LBCC book store the e-book can only be used on your laptop or desktop. Most books it's about a 50% savings. That could be hundreds of dollars for a full time student.

When going around asking students what they thought about it, Liz Jones said; “I think the e-books are a great idea, they are keeping up with the times. I love that they are so much cheaper” Keeping up with the times is right. A generation or two ago they never would have dreamed about having their school books on a computer.

 Jessica Dawson, who is duel enrolled with OSU, says “I tried the e-book one term.  I found it much more difficult to get myself to sit down at a computer than to pick up a book. I will never buy and e-book again.”

Some people may see this as a bad thing, offering our books online. It takes a little more self-discipline to sit down and read from your computer or e-reader. 

 

The Disadvantages of books on an e-reader/laptop:

• If your battery is low or dies;
• Computer breaks;
• Having to pay for the book twice if your computer loses it;
• Will power to go to the computer or pick up the e-reader;
• The e-book is only valid for 180 days, if you don't pass a class you will have to buy it again. 

 Kylie Sehrer tells us this, “The e-book can be a good thing if they are interactive part of the curriculum, however if it’s just plain text it’s harder to sit and read.   On some books you can do the exercises at the back of the chapter and get immediate feedback, which is helpful. “  

There are a few other places that you can "rent" books from as well like Chegg.com, and Amazon. It is still much cheaper to rent books then to buy them from the LBCC bookstore.

I guess we are just left with what do we prefer? Will e-books be a one hit wonder, or will they continue to keep up with the times?