A Kindle for Every Student

I see little or no educational benefit that is worth the cost of incorporating "e-textbooks" into the generalized educational process for most students. I fundamentally question the value, if not the necessity, of providing each student with a laptop computer. Students need to be trained to be computer-literate. They need to learn what such a tool can do for them when doing research requiring data processing, which is what computers are supposed to be primarily for. They should absolutely not be taught to rely heavily on the Internet as a source of accurate information when doing academic research, because it's not. Schools should be equipped with age-appropriate computer laboratories for the students to use as required. No homework should be given in any subject which requires an available at-home computer or other electronic tool, gadget or toy of any type, present or future, to get the work done, at least not below the college level. For another thing, it's too easy for a student to be distracted from his assigned work when given a computer with access to the Internet to work with. It's like trying to read a book in the middle of a rock concert.

Personally, I have difficulty with reading speed and comprehension when reading from a computer screen as compared to the pages of a book, never mind the burden of more severe eyestrain when comparing the two methods using equivalent study hours for each.

My credentials are such that I have a BS degree in engineering from The University of Texas and a total of 36 graduate hours in other fields from The University of Texas at Arlington.

Most importantly, the Texas Permanent School Fund should not be used for any other purpose than to purchase textbooks, as presently required by the Texas Constitution. It should be a felony offense to use the PSF for any other purpose absent any lawful amendment to the present Texas Constitution.

James E. Embry of TX 1:35AM January 15, 2010

theCampusCenter.com sounds like potentially a wonderful solution to the problem of how expensive higher education has gotten coupled with the huge hit that higher education institutions took to the portfolios providing the backbone of their financing as well as the problem of various student/faculty disabilities.

Obviously bugs have to be worked out (can't we do this cooperatively rather than with lawsuits over everything?). For instance, in spite of spellcheck, there is a spelling error on the first page of theCampusCenter website ('as' should be 'has'). And, sure,the advertising would of course help with costs, but as any experienced educator knows, it adds to the distractability and will decrease learning if mixed with text, and messes with comprehension of even the home page,etc.. That needs to be rethought. Is it encripted to maintain the security necessary to keep other students from plagiarizing/stealing research/identity theft (apparently, nothing can be made that secure so far with electronic information)? But we have 'known' since the 1970s that stay-at-home learning would become a possibility, if not nececessity/reality. It has to be explored in depth, and all ramifications have to be considered and answered. Savings in such things as dorm costs could be hugely beneficial to those students who will never be able to afford to graduate from an elite university under the current cost situation. (Current research on graduation rates doesn't note the obvious reason that lower income students don't graduate: college costs have prohibited anyone who isn't rich from going to elite private, or (in Texas, especially) upper echelon public, universities. Thirty years ago, an average middle class family could, through various means of savings, cutting costs here and there, and student work/scholarships, afford to send their children to college, graduating with little to no debt. Impossible now.)

Electronics have enabled differently-abled students and workers to have access to so many of the same opportunities to work and learn, irregardless of vision/hearing or other difficulties. Why would we not be able to resolve this again to tremendous advantage?

So, Kindle in it's current form won't do. But, eventually, if everyone can cut the greed factor and cooperate (include universities with community colleges/each other), maybe....

... sigh....

Can't we all just get along? Can't we think of others as much as ourselves? Please, people?

Raydeanne of TX 4:41AM September 12, 2009

I've not really played with a Kindle (I'm in the UK, where we don't have them), but I have seen other eBook readers - I guess one issue re. Accessibilty is that for some students - an electronic access to books will increase access (e.g. for those who have a physical disability - so they can't easily pick up books) - and those that have limited vision & just enlarging the screen is useful (and/ or those for whom having it read makes life easier) - however, reading the previous poster's points - it seems that the technology still needs working on - so all students can benefit - not just some groups.

I'd have thought that at present - it would be best to have both options - so those who prefer eBooks can have access to ALL textbooks they need (though I realise that would need huge co-operation & also that in many subjects, University level students will need to use out of print material - which they're unlikely to have electronic - but equally, those for whom the tech still isn't quite sorted (or just happen to prefer paper to electons!) need to have full access to all required texts ... while the tech is sorted for those that want to use it.

Emma 8:47AM August 27, 2009

I think the idea that eBooks will improve the way children learn is laughable. I don't believe there is any advantage to reading on an eBook over reading in a textbook. The real benefit of this is health related. All of my children are petite. My 16 year old daughter is only 5 feet tall. She has to have two backpacks for her school books (A day and B day). Each of these packs weights about 70 pounds. Because of the ever tightening of the class schedule she doesn't have time to go by a locker and still make it to class on time. I think switching to eBooks will save my daughters back and posture. Between large science, math and history books, and the class binders, she is over packed. Switching to eBooks will allow her to significantly reduce the weight she carries around each day. I am so in favor of using an eBook that I will buy the Kindle and textbooks myself. I would have already done so except I can't find a source of eBooks for the textbooks her school is using.

Marion Smith of SC 5:22PM August 26, 2009