Rachel Forst – Special to the Southern News –
Technology has been evolving with the education system for a good 20 to 30 years, as far as advancements go. These days students can be seen in classrooms using nooks, ereaders, tablets; their MacBooks, as well as iPads to take notes, read the textbook or even do homework.
These changes have been made frequent this past year with all these new technology advancements and new ideas for students to be interactive online in the classroom.
Technology use in schools is growing significantly, with classes integrating iPads, MacBooks and even the use of cell phones.
Students around campus are tech-savvy to be able to know how to navigate MacBooks or tablets and online resources in class as well as out. Soon enough, using just tablets or laptops in a class will be required; whether just for textbooks or taking notes, it would cut the cost of a physical textbook in half.
The Southern Barnes and Noble bookstore manager Larry Gil had said, “Between 350 to 330 digital titles have been purchased within the first two weeks of the semester based on fall and spring for digital and in store purchases.”
Integrating all these technological advancements into a college classroom is being seen on campus in small doses whether online texts for homework use or studying. Some professors have hybrid courses and others teach online only or some just try to incorporate using laptops or computers in a class to be more innovative in the curriculum.
In the next few years, classes may have striclty online features or have online textbooks available rather than the printed copy, which may cut the cost for most students immensely.
“Online digital titles will be the way of the future. But overall, most do still prefer to use a textbook to write in, highlight, etcetera even though you have the ability to highlight the text your reading online,” said Gil.
Having a class in person gives you the person-to-person, student-teacher interaction while the same goes for buying a physical textbook, having to flip back through pages to find what you’re looking for is what some still find easier than just having an online class or a digital textbook.
“I prefer to use the physical textbook, but for math we had the option for online or physical textbook but I didn’t buy the book. It is more difficult to use online because if you’re searching for a certain page it doesn’t always bring you to it. If I had online text for another class I wouldn’t do anything, I’d get more distracted being online,” said Karen Mayo, junior social work major.
Having to read from a textbook to take notes and using it as a guide is what helps students learn, unlike having to go online to do the same; it might be the easiest choice, but not the best.
Senior liberal studies major Ebony Gaines said, “I prefer the online text because of the price and the convenience of it. I bought one eBook, it is easier to use and saves on paper and all you need is to carry your laptop to class.”
This society has evolved greatly when it comes to technology. When it comes to Southern’s campus and students using an online text or having some classes online, it is all part of evolving.
Classrooms filled with laptops for a growing use of technology in schools are what is expected at most universities.
