Digital Textbooks Disappoint Students

Virtual textbooks may seem like a convenient idea. But, you may not want to skip printed books just yet. A new report from the Make Textbooks Affordable campaign (off-site link) shows that many students are disappointed with the way some publishers have chosen to enter the virtual market.

Here's a blurb:

"Digital textbooks are a promising solution to lower costs, but they need to be done the right way. This study finds that digital textbooks need meet three main criteria in order to maximize their potential: they must be affordable, printable, and accessible. The two major players in the digital textbook right now – e-textbooks and open textbooks – are examples of digital textbooks done the wrong way and digital textbooks done the right way."

Online students could benefit from textbooks that are readable from any computer. But, they also want the ability to purchase a low-cost print version of the same book and avoid digital "expiration dates" that make materials inaccessible after a certain period of time.

If textbook publishers can respond to these needs, virtual textbooks may become the standard study material for online learners.

See Also: How to Find Your Textbooks for Cheap or Free