The problem is that many professors on campus don’t allow electronics in their classroomsBy: Shawn Bruce
– Staff Writer –
W i t h school in s e s s i o n , students are getting into the swing of things. Part of that swing c o n s i s t s of students getting all of the necessary supplies for the coming year. Books are definitely a must have but they are quite pricey and reselling doesn’t offer much incentive either. Sure, renting books can drop the semester cost down considerably but advances in technology have created another cheap route: electronic textbooks (e-books).
The problem with this direction is that many professors on campus don’t allow electronics in their classrooms.
With prices considerably cheaper than the paper competitors and many student having access to an electronic device to run the programs, it seems like a win for students.
Not only will students be able to save money but the electronic books are a great way to use less paper.
With as many recycling programs on the campus it’s odd to think the idea hasn’t been adopted in the past. The weight difference would also make walking around
campus more comfortable. For students who spend most of their time on campus, this could be a major help. Lugging around books from class to class can be a huge workout.
It’s understandable that books are a part of revenue for the college but it feels like students are being taken advantage of. Books are necessary for classes and studying and not allowing the use of e-books destructive.
Professors say the students could use the electronic devices to be on social networking sites instead of participating in class. Agreed, students in this day and age have been known to spend considerable amounts of time networking.
This should be the students’ problem. The students that are in class to learn can benefit by using the electronics.
Another problem in the mix is using the e-books to cheat on tests. Just as a textbook shouldn’t be on a desk, neither should an e-book. Some e-books have access to the internet but if the device is not out during a test, the student shouldn’t be able to access it.
Of course there can be a drawback with all of the e-books that happens outside of class. The students using the devices for internet can cause quite a drain on the internet service. Slowing speeds could plague the campus, which is a hassle for those trying to find information for a report.
A solution for the campus is to allow the use of e-books throughout the classrooms.
From the bookstore website, e-books or even links to the correct books could be made available. E-book readers could be sold in the shop to create some of the revenue lost from the physical books.
Students with laptops have options instead of buying an e-reader. Instead, download a program that would allow the books to be read from the computer.
There are also applications for BlackBerrys and iPhones.
The phone solution would not be applicable in the classroom because texting could become a problem. Trying to cut down on some of the social networking wouldn’t be a bad thing. There is a line to be drawn between acceptable, and overkill. Having the books on the laptop wouldn’t be the most efficient at times. Splitting up the screen to show multiple windows becomes too much at times.
Another problem is that all textbooks are not available in electronic form. Does that mean that everyone should be banned from using such a format?
Ultimately, switching from physical to electronic should be an option on any campus. Its understandable to put the electronic devices away during testing but during regular class time is asinine. Students come to school to learn and if they can’t make the decision to put down the social media for an hour, then their grade will reflect their effort.
