Griffen, M, & Cady , M. (2010, November). Is it time to switch to digital textbooks. Learning and leading, 38(3), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-december-january-2010.aspx
This article focused on the idea of switching regular textbooks in schools for digital ones. Meg Griffen, a fourth grade teacher, is supportive of this transaction. She believes that digital textbooks, will save educators time, "updates are also as close as the next upload." Making it so that teachers will not have to wait for the next edition of a textbook to bring relevent and new information to light. She also sees digital textbooks as helping english language learners by having translations easier to access, "a digital text can easily allow for text-to-speech, pronouncation guides, and vocabulary support for students." In this regard it will help students who need the extra help without taking away classtime to learn the material. On the other hand, Michael Cady, a high school history teacher, believes the opposite. While he believes that digital textbooks are a great tool, he believes they will benefit students in only one way, "it can help lighten students' backpacks." To Cady, the material a textbook provides is the same regardless if its in paper or digital form, "putting the same textbook in a digital format is not an improvement." Cady believes that textbooks are just "commerical products" and the battle is not whether or not schools switch to digital textbooks but rather that teachers figure out a way to make the material more exciting and relevent to the kids.
1. With which side of the arguement do you agree?
I agree with Michael Cady, while digital textbooks seem like a great idea, I don't think it would inspire kids to learn more or motivate them to read their assignments. Reading is the main word here, kids don't find joy in reading anymore, they see it as a tedious assignment and don't wish to do it. The real issue at hand is discovering ways to make the textbook material more teachable for kids.
2. Do you think educators would approve of the idea of digital textbooks being implemented within their schools?
I would have to say it depends on the school and the teachers. For me, regardless of my opinion, if the school I was at decided to use digital textbooks, I wouldn't protest against it. But rather I would work with them just as with regular textbooks. We live in a generation where technology is a privital part of our students' lives. Therefore as educators we need to be accustumed to the idea that things within our schools are going to change, and its not a ploy against the teachers but rather a way to make sure that our students are given the level of education needed to meet today's society.
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