Online textbooks are becoming prevalent as we continue living in the digital world. Are online textbooks, however, really the better option? Pros and cons can be presented for both online and physical textbooks, but, in the end, the decision remains up to the student. Generally, physical textbooks are much better for visual learners, because they can take notes on the page and remember what the page looks like. But, in many circumstances, online textbooks are just more convenient than lugging around and flipping through physical textbooks. Read the following pros and cons for online and physical textbooks. Then, it can be your turn to decide what kind of textbook you will use in high school and college.
Some of the online textbooks pros are as follows:
- They don’t weigh down your backpack;
- They can’t be left behind as long as you have your device;
- They can be read anywhere as long as you have your phone or laptop;
- They are often sold for a cheaper price than physical textbooks;
- You can quickly search for a word or phrase to find any topic;
Some of the cons of online textbooks:
- Notifications might pop up while you’re reading, therefore you are less focused;
- Blue light can irritate your eyes and compromise your focus;
- You cannot annotate passages as easily;
- They cannot be resold;
- They rely on your device connecting to the internet and being charged;
- Not all textbooks have an online version yet;
The pros of physical textbooks:
- They are better for visual learners who take notes in their textbook or remember the look of the page;
- No online distractions or notifications;
- They are easy to resell or rent;
- They are very durable and long-lasting;
- They are aesthetically pleasing;
The cons of physical textbooks:
- They are heavy and cumbersome to carry around;
- They are more expensive;
- It can be hard to locate different topics quickly and easily;
By Elisabeth Halberstadt ‘27, Faith Editor
27ehalberstadt@montroseschool.org
Sources:
https://www.mbu.edu/blog/student-interests/pros-cons-digital-traditional-textbooks/
https://www.gradehacker.com/blog/digital-textbook-vs-physical/
