Technology changes how students look at books

Junior Kristy Lin needed a copy of the book “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” to help her finish her Independent Reading project due the week before finals for English. Instead of heading to a library and braving checkout lines to check out a book, she pulled out her iPad and downloaded the eBook version.

“[An eBook] is more convenient because it saves the time of trying to get a book at the library or in a bookstore,” Lin said. “I couldn't find any copies of my IR book in the Saratoga library so I just got an electronic version instead.”

Lin is one among many students who use eBooks in place of regular hard copy books.

“I wouldn't say it makes a project more efficient, but there are some features like adjusting the size of the text that make reading easier,” Lin said.

Senior Jaya Narasimhan, who uses an Amazon Kindle, said  eBooks are better than paperbacks not only for projects, but also for reading for pleasure.

“What I really like most about [a Kindle] is that you can download a sample before you buy a book so you know that it’s worth it,” Narasimhan said. “The books are also cheaper on the Kindle.”

English 11 teacher Carolyn Bohls says that she is indifferent on having eBooks in class.

“I have never used an eBook reader; I like hard copy books better,” said Bohls. “I don’t oppose them because I see them as a way to proliferate reading among our younger generation. I usually see people at airports reading eBooks.”

English 9 teacher Meg Battey believes that eBooks are better suited for students rather than for a more mature audience.

“Scrolling for me just doesn't have the same effect; however, a number of my freshmen prefer to use eBooks and have chosen to read their independent reading books electronically,” said Battey. “Having talked to one of my students about this subject, she enjoys the convenience.”
In addition to having the ability to read eBooks, some recent eBook readers, such as the Kindle, have other forms of entertainment that users can enjoy.

“[My Kindle] also functions like a tablet so I can do things like play games or watch Netflix,” Narasimhan said. “Although I do miss paperbacks, it's just useful, especially if I am travelling.”

However, Bohls said that these distractions divert focus from the subject at hand, which can lead to poor comprehension.

Bohls said that she would learn to use an eBook if she was able to afford it.

“If the Kindle was more affordable, I would definitely learn to use them,” Bohls said. “At the last school that I taught, only a few people had a home computer. We check out books from the school library, but we can’t take notes or write on them, whereas you can just touch the reader to take notes on it.”

English 10 MAP teacher Jason Friend is supportive of eBooks being the next step in learning.

“I am excited by the prospect of eBooks becoming the norm in classrooms,” said Friend, “because students will easily be able to highlight key passages and type marginal notes on their readings, which is much more akin to the college experience.”

Friend also sees a more practical benefit.

“Also, students will be able to carry one small tablet as opposed to an elephantine backpack, which might make chiropractors sad but will make everyone else happy,” Friend said.