We live in a digital world. Smartphones, iPads, eReaders, and other digital devices bring the world to our fingertips. We can share photos with friends who live close by or far away via Instagram or Facebook. The use of Facetime or Skype brings our loved ones who may be far away to within our reach. Are you searching for deals at nearby stores? There's an APP for that. (Red Laser) Would you like to know where to eat in an unfamiliar town? There's an APP for that. (Around Me) Can't figure out what the name of that song is? Yep! You guessed it! There's an APP for that! (Shazam) I could go on and on. But how dependent should we be on technology?
Should we toss aside printed textbooks to make way for digital textbooks? There are pros and cons to this. Digital textbooks would be much more convenient. You could hold all of your textbooks on one device. Every book for every class would be in the palm of your hands. That sounds wonderful! No more carrying around a thirty pound backpack. However, what do you do if your device breaks? How are you going to access every book for every class while your device is being repaired? And who is going to purchase the devices? Will the school system purchase a device for each student? If so, it would be more cost efficient than printed textbooks. However, how much will it cost the system to update devices and repair those that break? Would it be more cost efficient in the long run? If the school system does not provide each child a device (1:1), then it puts a strain on families to provide a device for each child they have in school.
So, what's the solution? You tell me your thoughts. Give me a pro and a con. Tell me whether you would like to go digital or stick to print.
Should we toss aside printed textbooks to make way for digital textbooks? There are pros and cons to this. Digital textbooks would be much more convenient. You could hold all of your textbooks on one device. Every book for every class would be in the palm of your hands. That sounds wonderful! No more carrying around a thirty pound backpack. However, what do you do if your device breaks? How are you going to access every book for every class while your device is being repaired? And who is going to purchase the devices? Will the school system purchase a device for each student? If so, it would be more cost efficient than printed textbooks. However, how much will it cost the system to update devices and repair those that break? Would it be more cost efficient in the long run? If the school system does not provide each child a device (1:1), then it puts a strain on families to provide a device for each child they have in school.
So, what's the solution? You tell me your thoughts. Give me a pro and a con. Tell me whether you would like to go digital or stick to print.