University students cope with enough stress as it is, with lots of late nights that rob us of rest and relaxation. The last thing we need is to suffer from back pains due to carrying heavy textbooks. According to an ergonomics study[i],
University students cope with enough stress as it is, with lots of late nights that rob us of rest and relaxation. The last thing we need is to suffer from back pains due to carrying heavy textbooks. According to an ergonomics study[i], heavy backpacks can severely impact the spine, which causes muscle strain and pain in the spinal joints.
The solution? Joining the rapidly advancing technological world, by using a single device such as a tablet, to store all textbooks in electronic form. This means that students will have all their work, notes, books and textbooks on a single device, which they utilize in lectures, make notes and highlight directly onto resources using a stylus pen.
Many additional advantages arise, such as:
- Environmental benefits – as deforestation can significantly be reduced, by cutting down the amount of paper required
- A reduction in textbook prices, as there would be no printing and paper involved in the manufacturing costs. Another advantage is that students will not “forget” certain text books at home, as they only have to carry one device around the whole day.
- The device only weighs approximately 662g[ii], which counters the issue or carrying heavy backpacks.
- You can store thousands of e-books on your device, opposed to fitting hardcopies on a shelf in your dormitory room
- Once buying an electronic book, you have access to it immediately.
Our generation, is so technologically involved, from smartphone usage to social network communicating, the most efficient way to learn would be to integrate our lifestyle with education. Traditional methods of teaching have become boring[iii] and it is tedious for students who do all their work on laptops and tablets, to have to transfer information from printed textbooks and would prefer a hands on approach which is more interactive and conducive to their tech savvy daily activities.
I believe that electronic textbooks will definitely enhance the learning experience and efficiency of working at a tertiary level.
By Lisa Moodley. 777303.
- When coming across a word you don’t understand, double click the word for an immediate dictionary definition, or the option to highlight it, or even add a note.
- You can either skip directly to a page numebr or chapter, or you can “turn the page” by swiping your finger across the screen.
- Using a stylus pen, you can make notes directly to pages of your textbook, in your own handwriting which is easy to interpret and fast to carry through.
- All your books, resources, and textbooks will be stored in an interactive library, which automatically bookmarks your books.