e-textbook-college

Digital vs. print textbook war – who cares?


Why the real conversation should be about affordability and accessibility.

digital-textbook-college

The end of print textbooks has been foretold for years with the argument that digital screens would completely replace print. The reality, however, is quite different.

In fact, a recent Purdue University report found that only four percent of the population studied opted to use an e-textbook over a print textbook, concluding that print textbooks are preferred by college students.

While this print versus digital textbook debate carries on, people are failing to notice a larger and much more important point. In reality, who cares what the dominant textbook format will eventually become? Depending on the learner, subject matter, and instructor, one format or another may always be the “better” choice to accommodate a student’s learning style and the instructor’s curriculum design.

The more pressing conversation should be about doing everything we can to help students be successful, graduate on-time, and be prepared for the working world. To do that, we need to lower the cost of course materials for students, increase accessibility, and improve student outcomes, regardless of the textbook format – in fact, both formats have a place in achieving those goals.

(Next page: Improving both affordability and accessibility)

Improving affordability

Textbooks are the second highest educational expense after tuition, and according to the College Board, the price of books and supplies for the average student is $1,200 a year.

It’s no secret that students are cash-strapped and faced with mounting costs, as many have simply stopped buying books. A study by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group reported by NBC News found that as many as 65 percent of students decide against buying a book due to cost.

Digital content and open educational resources have been seen by administrators as a way to lower cost, but changing the book format and/or source of the content is not a silver bullet – it does not guarantee that students will have access to textbooks at a reasonable cost, and does not guarantee faculty will have sufficient, trusted choices available to supplement every course and subject that is offered.

Therein lays the crux of the problem: Most textbooks and learning materials used by faculty come from traditional publishers, and print format products from those publishers are generally cheaper for students to acquire than digital products. Being open to a mix of print and digital textbooks will do the most to help keep costs low for the foreseeable future.

Increasing accessibility

A report by U.S. News found that 50 percent of students said the cost of textbooks affected which classes – and how many classes – they choose to take each term. Said another way, textbook costs are a significant barrier to course selection and progress toward completion. In fact, 60 percent of 4-year college students don’t graduate within six years and 80 percent of 2-year, community college students don’t graduate within three years, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

While there are many reasons why more students don’t finish, over half of students cite cost as the primary reason they drop out, also according to the U.S. Department of Education. As noted, textbooks are the second highest educational expense after tuition, but unlike tuition – a predictable cost that can be covered, to a certain extent, by financial aid – textbook costs are an unpredictable, unbudgeted out-of-pocket expense. As a result, students are showing up to class on day one unprepared without their required textbooks, putting them at a disadvantage.

So how do we increase student accessibility to course materials, whatever the format, and remove the barrier students face when selecting courses? That is the issue campuses need to be solving, as focusing on a choice between print versus digital limits good alternatives – alternatives that put learning materials (whatever the format) in the hands of every student and ensure that all students are prepared for class on day one.

By improving affordability and accessibility, campuses will then be ready to address outcomes and effectiveness. Instead of debating digital vs. print, the conversation needs to focus on how to improve instruction and outcomes by utilizing the most effective learning materials available.

That’s the foundation on which to build for the future.

Nathan Gamble, VP of Product, Raftera course materials management company that offers solutions to help campuses manage the complexity of course materials. Learn more about Rafter360.

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