The Future Of Digital Textbooks

886 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Impact of technology advancement on education

“Ripe for digital destruction,” (A Textbook) were words of the late Steve Jobs referring to the enormous potential for the textbooks industry. He believed the textbook market to be worth an estimated 8 billion dollars in the U.S. alone. His vision was to lessen the burden of carrying heavy textbooks around, while also offering them as a free feature with the iPad. He wanted to change the culture of textbooks forever.

The essay “What are the Enablers and Barriers to Successful Adoption and Commercialization of Digital Textbooks,” discusses the many benefits and drawback of transitioning to digital textbooks. The essay asserts that digital textbooks are on the rise and that there is a good probability they will overtake printed textbooks in the foreseeable future. They are currently accessible to students by download onto a reading device or by logging into the publisher’s site online. The main players involved in the innovation and development of digital textbooks include Flat World Knowledge Inc., Connexions, Courseload, VitalScore, CafeScibe, Coursesmart, Inkling, and Know. The overwhelming factor driving these companies and the user is the cost. The successful implementation of digital textbooks would greatly decrease costs to the consumer and the creators/developers, making it a win-win situation. The three business models include the profit multiplier and the two switch board models. The essay concludes that advances in innovation and technology will lead to advances in education. In this economy, lower costs will lead to more people completing college and a more intelligent society.

Digital textbooks present many advantages and very few drawbacks to both the student and the seller. The primary advantage to the student i...

... middle of paper ...

...to transform the textbook industry (Kafta).

Paper textbooks have reached their potential a long time ago. Ideas have been exhausted and there simply isn’t any substantial aspects left to improve. We live in a digital time where innovation and technology are constantly reaching new limits, almost overnight. Now is the time to adopt digital textbooks and not just make improvements, but revolutionize the way the next generation will learn.

Works Cited

"A Textbook Manoeuvre." The Economist. 19 Jan 2012. Web. 26 Feb 2012. .

Kafta, Peter. "Publisher Terry McGraw on Steve Jobs and Digital Textbooks: “This Was His Vision”." AllThingsD. N.p., 20 Jan 2012. Web. 26 Feb 2012. .

Show More
Related

  • An Analysis Of Dwight Macdonald's Reading And Thought

    736 Words  | 2 Pages

    In addition, textbooks are heavy to carry around and it takes longer to find a page. Likewise with digital textbooks they are compatible with tablets, smartphones, and laptops; it’s much easier to carry around and affordable price. However, some people may argue that digital textbooks can be a distraction for people because they would not bother read anymore. The author and poet Dana Gioia argues that electronics alternatives may be a bad influence that will lead society to not read anymore. Gioia complicates matters further when she writes, “While no single activity is responsible for the decline in reading, the cumulative presence and availability of electronic alternatives increasingly have drawn Americans away from reading” (161). I think Gioia is mistaken because she overlooks on electronics being a bad influence; but doesn’t see the benefits of electronics. To demonstrate, most of my textbooks are digital, which I can easily carry my tablet around where ever I go. Also, I save more money on digital textbooks and are simple to annotated the text. Journalist Ellen Lee interview a student from Liberty University, and he states that he prefers digital textbooks because he can tap his iPad, opens the digital copy and quickly open the page. Nevertheless, he also like digital textbooks because it has a feature that allows to highlight and mark the

    Read More

  • Why Are Textbooks So Expensive? By Henry Roediger

    1055 Words  | 3 Pages

    This article, “Why Are Textbooks So Expensive?” by Henry Roediger reveals the truth of why textbooks are so pricey. He shows how textbooks prices are costly not because of inflation, corporate textbook companies, and frequent revisions, but because of the sale of used textbooks. The article is elaborating on why used textbooks are the real culprit as well. One main point that is highlighted is that used textbooks are resold for many years. The initial selling of the textbook is the only time the author will make a profit, but the bookstore will make a profit every time they resell a used book. It is essential for the author to raise the price to compensate for the loss of money when dealing with used textbooks.

    Read More

  • Analysis of Chegg

    2116 Words  | 5 Pages

    In a recent study that was conducted the rate of individuals attending college has increased. This increase in students comes at a time when the country has been described as being in a recession. With job losses, companies closing and lack of job availability many people are returning to school. This return to the classroom comes at a cost. The rate of college tuition has risen in the last few years. In my home state of Kentucky, it appears both of the major Universities have asked to raise tuition every other year. When college cost rise so does the tools needed to attend college. One of the most expensive tools is books. Last year I enrolled my son in college when calculating the books for his classes, we soon learned that the cost of his books and the cost of my books were almost on month’s salary. My family soon learned if we were going to be able to not only attend college but have the necessary tools needed, we would have to consider alternatives to buying books. I did some research and soon discovered that technology had again come to the rescue. I found a company called Chegg that is an online book rental company. This company provides students with an alternative to buying books by renting them for a portion of the price. According to their article in CrunchBase named “Chegg edit” the company began at Iowa University in 2005 as a “hyper-local” classified directory. It was not until 2007 that the company introduced their textbook rental service. When looking at the company from an Information Systems standpoint I would say it ranks up there with the creative ideas of the century. You go online type in your order and it is processed within a matter of days. During the next portion of this paper we will loo...

    Read More

  • Annotated Bibliography

    2265 Words  | 5 Pages

    This source considers the issue of converting to digital books, specifically as it pertains to the effect that this change would have on the global environment. Although the research does recognize that there are disadvantages to not having a physical copy of a book and to abandoning certain platforms that do not transfer well to a digital form, overall, these researchers conclude that publishers should move towards digital products not only for the sake of cheaper long-run costs, but also for the good that going paperless can do for the environment. By displaying a series of graphs, as well as including multiple data sets, the text explains how e-books compare with printed texts; then, analysis of these facts is also included to show the reader the authors’ point.

    Read More

  • Why Are Textbooks Cheaper

    652 Words  | 2 Pages

    In recent years; much attention has focused on the rising costs of going to college. Nowadays, most college students' struggle with college fees in some way. It is hard enough for them to find the money to pay for their tuition fees, but on top of that they also have to find a way to pay for their course-required textbooks. Many do not realize how big of a problem the rising of textbook prices is, so in this paper will find out why textbooks are becoming more expensive, how significant this problem is, and how to fix it.

    Read More

  • The Future of the Textbook Industry

    2216 Words  | 5 Pages

    Merrian Webster defines Publishing as: “The business or profession of the commercial production and issuance of literature, information, musical scores or sometimes recordings, or art.” This essay will review publishing from its beginnings in the 16th century, describe how technology in the 21st century has disrupted the profession of publishing. This paper will also discuss where we are today and the trajectory of the industry for the next decade.

    Read More

  • Why Textbooks Should Be Free

    1236 Words  | 3 Pages

    In conclusion, America provides many ways to help reduce the cost of college textbooks but society is still not satisfied with the outcome. The Open Textbook, Affordable Textbook Act, and book store rentals are wonderful programs, but has its disadvantages that hopefully would be resolved in the 2016 presidential elections. The statistics show that many students across the nation benefit from learning with quality of teaching, the amount of accessibility it provides without having to worry about paying off student loans. School administrations should consider about transferring to an act that would benefit both the school and the students, but also provide more equality to the publishers and students.

    Read More

  • Students Should Be Paid For College Students

    1432 Words  | 3 Pages

    From the time a child enters kindergarten in the public school system as a newly initiated student, to the time that same student finishes high school, he or she will probably never have to pay a dime on one textbook, unless the student has to pay replacement fees for the destruction of property or for losing the textbook that he or she was using. However, if a student wishes to pursue a higher education in college, he or she will quickly come to the realization that textbooks are no longer readily available to be used for free while pursuing their college education. No matter what classes the student takes, whether those classes be at community college or a private university, the student must buy or rent his or her textbooks for each class.

    Read More

  • Expensive Textbooks Essay

    880 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hence, another problem of buying older versions or new versions of books per the teacher’s choice can be easily solved. Apart from everything, students can play a huge role in reducing the expenses on textbooks.

    Read More

  • Will Digital Books Replace Print Books?

    969 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the past few years, the publishing and reading world has been facing a veritable digital book onslaught. E-books have been outselling print books on Amazon since 2011 (Polanka, 7). While digital book sales skyrocketed, print book sales, especially those of mass marked paperbacks, diminished. Even the fact that e-books are not much cheaper than print books does not seem to interfere with the former’s popularity. It would seem that the age of print books is about to end, and quite soon.

    Read More

  • Replacing Textbooks with Tablets

    1009 Words  | 3 Pages

    As more people began to access the Internet through smart phones and tablets rather than laptops and computers, it is not a surprise that they would also want to transform the American education system by bringing tablets into classrooms. In fact, a few schools around the country have already replaced textbooks with tablets and have seen improvements in students’ standardized test scores. Using tablets instead of textbooks is not only convenient and helpful, but it can also reduce the amount of paper wastes in school. However, it is not a good idea to completely transform textbooks with tablets with the current technology, for it can not only be damaging to the environment and costly to set up, but also might not be effective in improving K-12 education in the long run.

    Read More

  • Should Textbooks Be Taught In Schools

    501 Words  | 2 Pages

    In this case, imagine if schools continued to use books and worksheets for their learning and research. They would eventually be at a disadvantage versus a school who incorporates the phycology behind the hues of colors, design and technology into their classrooms. One article disputes that claim though, giving the reasoning that changes should come based off student interest. Students appreciated the easy use of e-books provided, but “contrary to what most would expect, the younger and supposedly tech-savvy students are not all that into e-textbooks.... It runs counter to the push for paper-free digital classroom where e-books are often marketed as the lower cost (and lower weight) option” (Lewis-Spectator). When we personalize learning, we have to take into account whether the

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Ebooks Vs Textbooks

    1074 Words  | 3 Pages

    Getting educated is one of the most important things in life when it comes to getting a good future. By developing good knowledge of schooling, it helps establish and maintain new information as needed throughout the real world. As books are one the essential tools in learning, eBooks are being used in a everyday lifestyle. Traveling to get away places from city life, helps give reading a comforting feel. Students that use print books are eventually going to use ebooks in the future. By educating students with ebooks, it is more efficient than carrying textbooks; ebooks is more convenient and reliable to read, write and store notes. Print books are being replaced by eBooks, it helps on keeping files together and it makes notes

    Read More

  • Technology Should Not Be Taught In Schools

    978 Words  | 2 Pages

    In today’s society, technology is becoming increasingly common. Not only are people upgrading their latest technology, but so are schools and colleges throughout the United States. However, this is posing as a concern for several parents, teachers, and students. These individuals are concerned that converting how children learn to strictly technology will induce more obstacles in the long run. In relation to the concern regarding technology, some individuals speculate that if schools stick to textbooks, then the students would be at less of an advantage.

    Read More

  • The Future Of Print Books

    761 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hard copy books have been and will continue dying. This situation is caused because of the popularity of eBooks. Recently, more and more people have sifted to use eBooks, not hard copy books. And the number of eBook users is predicted to rise in the future. Although, some people say that they love and will keep on using print books because print-books are the classical representation of the reading paper through history, E-book is better to use because it is the the future of reading, and they are convenient.

    Read More

More about The Future Of Digital Textbooks

Open Document