By: Teresa Galloway
English Preparatory Writing , English Composition, Film, and SLS, Plant City campus
The e-text symposium held at Daytona State College was very interactive and informative. I enjoyed mingling with the book representatives and the faculty/administration from the surrounding colleges. All agree that making available quality instruction at the most affordable cost is our goal.
I have not used an e-text either in my classroom or while my taking courses at University. I had presumed that it would be a difficult at best to obtain the software/technology to do so. One major advantage that the book representative told me is that a student can purchase an entire text or only certain necessary chapters. This would be beneficial for students usually must a gigantic text that the instructor only uses a portion of the material. Some texts are used for two semesters: Liberal Arts Math is one example. The student may purchase the first portion during the first semester and purchase the second portion the next semester. This would break the hefty price tag into two parts—a benefit for most.
Another “eye-opener” the book representative gave me is that my students do not need a specific apparatus to view the e-text. The student could use certain type of phones or the lab/home computer to access the information. The student only needs to purchase an affordable, one-semester e-text at a dramatic savings to the price of a paper text.
Three of the classes I teach will be partially online in Spring, 2012. My plan is to offer the student the option of the paper text or the e-book. This way, the student can weigh the price for each and how it fits into his or her budget.
The colleges have an opportunity to offer the latest technology to our students. Bookstores will soon be a source for e-readers along with textbooks. The colleges will be able to offer discount prices for the readers because the colleges will then order in bulk. The paper text may not go away, but it is certainly being overcome by the e-text.
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