Welcome INFS 1020 Spring 2011!
Read the following article from The Chronicle of Higher Education. Sign up at bloger.com – create a response to this entry, speak to a subject from this article. Possible subjects could be:
- E-Text books, have you used one? How was your experience? Would you rather have E-Texts or are regular texts just fine for you?
- Tablet PC's, are they useful? Are they just for consuming information? Or can you really produce something with them? Have you considered buying one? Is cost a factor? Do you know the real cost if you buy a data plan from a cell carrier to go with it?
- Feel free to find your own topic if you wish as well.
Expert Predicts a Deluge of Tablet Computers on Campuses
January 7, 2011, 3:43 pm
By Josh Fischman
Las Vegas—In his keynote address at the Higher Ed Tech Summit, Walt Mossberg, the influential technology columnist for The Wall Street Journal, told an audience of higher-education officials and company executives that their future held many tablet computers. And not just the iPad, but some of the 70 or so new tablet devices that have been announced this week at the Consumer Electronics Show here.
Speaking yesterday, Mr. Mossberg noted that CES this year should be renamed "TES" because there were so many of the things. (There was Motorola's new Xoom, for instance, and Dell's Streak 7, Lenovo's IdeaPad Hybrid—a laptop with a detachable tablet—and devices from Samsung, Toshiba, Motion …)
And tablets will matter in higher education, Mr. Mossberg said, because students will bring them to campus, and colleges and—in particular—publishers will need to meet their needs. "The actual users, like students and faculty, will barge in," he said.
Books should cost less, and they should be digital, Mr. Mossberg said. He is a trustee of Brandeis University, and "I vote on cost-cutting at every meeting. So the idea of having to spend a fortune on books is just primitive." Course materials, including books, are less expensive in digital form, and tablets make them easy to use. "The multi-touch tablet computer has a serious chance of challenging the mouse-based interface, which has been around since the 1960s and came to fruition in the 1970s," Mr. Mossberg said.
Personally, I couldn't agree more with this theory made by Mr. Mossberg. With these new technologies such as Ipads becoming so popular it will open many new and different opportunities for students, and new departments for jobs. Coming from a students point of view I would be very happy for these technologies to force textbook companies to go digital. That would cut the extremely ridiculous cost of books, and would make the entire college community happy.
ReplyDeleteI have never used an e-textbook but I would if I had a tablet pc. I have read kindle books and I like how convenient they are. I'm sure e-textbooks would be the same. Also, one problem with paper textbooks is that the pages can get bent or torn. If a book is even slightly damaged, many places will not buy them back. Therefore, many books are left to waste sitting around in someones bedroom. E-textbooks eliminate this problem and they eliminate paper waste created from making textbooks.
ReplyDeleteSarah Boward
I feel like this Theory is common sense in a way. Look, as the future comes to past technology will just make thing like books, die off. I feel that the youth today will adapt to this change with no problem because it's the norm of our lifestyle today. So I would basically back and help push the change of having complete technology educate us.
ReplyDeleteI agree with having the technology educate us. Now a days, people are more educated with technology; for instance, if you have to look up information, most people go straight to google as opposed to going to the library and looking for a book. It just is more efficient with technology. I do think though that in the future technology is going to be too powerful for its own good, but since we're not quite at that point I think we should start switching. The decrease in textbook cost would be beneficial for everyone. Besides, there is no point in making them so expensive because people sell them other places for a cheaper cost which is what everyone tends to do.
ReplyDeleteMickey Molchany
I definitely agree with this article's view on ebooks. College textbooks are way to much and anyway I can cut the cost is great. I would much rather spend a one time cost on a tablet than spend $200 on multiple books each semester. I think this technology is perfect for college students.
ReplyDeleteTechnology has been important for students and faculty these days and will continue to be in the future. Technology has allowed us to explore more information in a given amount of time. I would have to agree with Mr. Mossberg because tablet computers would make it more effecient for students to access information faster and with less cost. I have never used E-text books, but i would be interested to find out how much more convienent it would be rather than buying text books. I am considering the I-Pad, and with all the resoures available on that, online books would benefit everyone.
ReplyDeleteChris Boretzky
I believe it is a great idea to make all textbooks online. I am a college student with alot of things going on at once to worry about, so if it doesn't cost alot I am for it. It is rediculous to spend $115 on a book for 15 weeks and when you sell it back thhey tell you it is not coming back or they give you $20 for it. It would benefit everyone seeing that we are in a new technilogical age anyways in which more people comprehend technology then ever before.
ReplyDeleteI have never used an E-text book, but i agree with this article. I feel the cost of text books are too expensive and there should be an alternative. I also use MyMathLab in my math class as our online homework. It gives you examples and even the choice to see a similar problem. I believe E-text books are the next step up from MyMathLab and it will be a valuable resource for college students.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of virtual textbooks, while cost effective, does not appeal to me. Despite that, I do believe this is where we are headed in the future. For some people the idea of iPads and other technology works well and while I would most likely own one if I had the money up front for it, I wouldn't ever actually use it as a textbook. Mostly I believe that these types of technology are going to become increasingly popular throughout the years but as of now their usefulness depends on the students academic studies.
ReplyDelete-Abby Brentzel
I am pro for the tablet computers and the virtual textbooks because technology is a huge part of our college students life. Having tablet computers will help a student have a computer on him at all times and be able to do homework at any time. The virtual textbooks will save students a lot of money from buying books and every college student is broke and hates it. Technology is improving so fast that the things we are learning now will be outdated in 2 years. This is way I feel it is important to have the newest and most up to date technology.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say I would prefer not to use a virtual text book. I feel as if there is already enough things I use the Internet/computer for already I don't need one more thing. I understand it might be more convenient but I like the regular textbook just not the cost of it. Now the iPad is great tool for all students to use in my opinion but it does not replace a standard desktop or laptop. With wireless Internet capabilities around the school students can access emails very quickly and easily. It is not very good for typing papers which is why I don't think it could completely replace a computer. I used my iPad to type this from my bed.
ReplyDelete-Adam Nusairat
The reality is that the world is evolving. It is becoming more and more sophisticated each and every day. Having a tablet PC would make everyones lives easier, not only would you have a computer on you at all times but you would have your books and homework on you at all times. Buying texts books adds up alomg with tuition, so anything that can make help me spend less is a helpful tool. Although the inital price would be more expensive at first in the end I feel its not only cheaper, but more convenient. Also, in the near future everything will be available through an ipad or an iphone which means they are slowly phasing out things that are not electronic.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this article. I have used ebooks before and i always tend to use them more than my regular textboks. I am on my computer most of the time, so the convenience level is much higher. Some prices for textbooks are ridiculous. Ebooks are less expensive and usually easy to use. The interactive features which make the text book look very old and out dated.
ReplyDeleteE-Text books are sometime an advantage, but in most cases they are a disadvantage. They are great for reading novels in literature classes, because all the books and be compiled on to the device. Also, they are usually cheaper. When it comes to other class and using E-Text books the digital component can be very annoying. It's harder to flip back between pages, take notes, highlight, or even look up examples. For instances like these an regular paperbound book works best.
ReplyDeleteI agree for the most part, the only issue I have is that we might become too reliant on this technology. What happens when you drop it or it simply crashes. This is the only access you have to your books. What happens then? Do your professors just understand and give you an extension. No way! Having your hands on a book is great, yes the cost is higher. I think the real issue should be addressed with book costs. Start there then work the technology. Before it becomes mandatory in schools it needs to work better for day to day use. Note taking, highlighting, and quick searches are among a few features that must work seamlessly before we make the jump.
ReplyDeleteScott Glasser
I do not agree with this opinion stated in this article. I feel as the ipad is just a bigger distraction for students. As it is right now students do not start a paper or project without checkin facebook first. Adding apps and other means of entertainment in the same place as your books and other materials are is a mistake and people would most likely end up buying the hard copy of the book anyway instead of the E Text book.
ReplyDeleteRobert Vogel
I do not agree with this article. I would find it costly to purchase an Ipad and a data plan to go with it and pay every month. And then to mention you dont save that much on ebooks compared to real text books. I have briefly used an ebook before and I prefer a real textbook.
ReplyDeleteI've used an e-book before, but it wasn't an e-textbook. I downloaded free books using the Amazon Kindle app for my Mac and my phone. My opinion on reading electronic books is that it really isn't that bad of an experience. It isn't the same as sitting down with an actual copy of a book, but it also has it pros, such as you are able to simply download new books and it is very portable. As far as tablet PCs go, I recently considered purchasing one. I have an android phone and I think it would be cool to have an android powered tablet because I could take notes in class with it and sync it to both my phone and my laptop. The barrier that is really stopping me from buying one is the cost factor. I looked into the new Motorola Xoom and the Dell Streak and they're both going to cost $400+ which is just too much money to throw around at this point in time. I do not agree with the article because not everyone has the extra money to be able to purchase one of these tablets right now, not even considering the cost that some of the books will probably be.
ReplyDelete-Michael DiTommaso