Four Common Objections to Digital Textbooks | EdSurge News

" ... The debate as to whether digital textbooks can stack up to traditional print textbooks rages on, intensified by seemingly incessant research and data exposing the outrageous costs of traditional print textbooks. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, college textbook prices have risen a shocking 1,041 percent since 1977—outpacing inflation by more than three times. Making the jump to more affordable, online courseware is the logical next step to cut costs, and many learning platforms and digital content providers are stepping up to help. Even the government is in support of digital, open textbooks, with members of Congress recently proposing the Affordable College Textbook Act and the U.S. Department of Education’s #GoOpen campaign. But despite available resources and growing support, digital textbooks are still met with doubt and resistance sparked by some key—and not so unfounded—objections. No stranger to having to set the digital versus print textbook debate straight, I’ve pulled together a list of common objections to sort out what is, in fact, true and what is completely false. The top four digital textbook dissents I’m hearing include ..."