Are eTextbooks — or Digital Textbooks — suitable for college? Are they convenient and sustainable? Are there any eTextbooks for rent or should you always purchase them? Since this speedy digitalization of our learning environment is a recent events, it might not be easy to find an answer to any of these and other questions related to eTextbooks. Let’s clarify the situation together!
Points to Consider
Students have many considerations to make when selecting textbooks: new or used, rent or buy, and print or digital eTextbooks. Quite often the decision comes down to a student’s learning habits and their understanding of the limitations of each option. In this blog, we are breaking down the pros and cons of eTextbooks, as well as discussing how students learn from each format (Spoiler Alert! You retain more reading the paper version).
Pros of Buying or Renting eTextbooks
- May have cheaper upfront costs (know for sure by checking purchase and rental prices on BookScouter.com)
- Can buy eTextbooks
- Renting eTextbooks might be cheaper than buying hard copies
- Can have multiple books on one device
- Less to carry and store
- Can’t lose or damage a digital version
- Most up-to-date version
- Full-text searches and highlight capabilities
- May have interactive features like flashcards, videos, and quizzes
- Purchase instantly with quick downloads
- Can access without internet after you download
- Don’t have to bother with returns or reselling; access to rentals just expires automatically
Cons of eTextbooks
- Can’t resell and get some money back
- Can’t be read on some mobile devices due to screen size
- Renting eTextbooks might be tricky because of strict return policies based on number of days, percentage of book viewed, using any access codes (here is one return policy for example)
- Limited by battery life for reading device
- Screen fatigue and eyesight strain
- Easier to get distracted with additional notifications on a device
- Limited device downloads
- May have to download multiple eReader apps for different books
- Depending on the publisher, may not be able to print or cut and paste from an eTextbook
- Page numbers might not match supporting materials
Final Thoughts on Pros and Cons of eTextbooks
Finally, there are differences of opinion on which format is better for student learning. Proponents state that eBooks are designed to keep students engaged with highlights and annotations while allowing them to easily share notes with peers or teachers. Furthermore, embedded hyperlinks let students quickly reference additional information. However, research has also shown that students learn better from printed books. When tested, students were able to recall more key points and details from the printed material than when reading from a digital copy. Some of the differences can be attributed to time, with students scrolling at a faster pace through the digital material.
Ultimately, no matter which format you choose, there is a place for both options in your studies if you understand the pros and cons of eTextbooks.
