Online Books Might Be An Option

With technology advancing and students expanding their learning, the debate about online books at Arrowhead Union High School continues.

Senior, Jack Dambeck said, “It would be great to only have to carry my iPad around instead of six books.”

“I don’t like how books tend to be heavy and obnoxious to carry around. The online books would be so much more convenient,” said senior Jhawn Neuman.

Carrying around textbooks to and from classes everyday weighs down backpacks and can create back problems.  It is also harder for some kids to learn while reading from a book rather than from one electronic device.

World Languages Department Chair, Terry Neumann-Hayes said, “Students should be able to use whatever method of learning is best for them. In this day and age, more kids want to use their electronic devices rather than paper.”

So why does Arrowhead still issue textbooks? Why have they not switched over to online books? The answer is simple: cost. Textbook companies are charge more for online books than they do for regular books.

AP Chemistry teacher Cammy Ley said, “Textbook companies are charging something like $50 per book per year. By using paper textbooks, we save money because we are able to use them for eight to ten years instead of having to pay each year.”

Neumann-Hayes says, “In order for this to work, I feel the online textbook companies need to work with schools to lower their prices and make it more affordable for schools. Right now, it is way too expensive for Arrowhead to afford.”

Even with the greater cost, should Arrowhead offer the use of online books?

Neumann-Hayes, said, “I think it’s a great idea to transfer over to online books. The choice to switching over should be up to the individual student, because I know some prefer paper instead of electronics. I think if the student is willing to pay the greater fee for an online book, they should be allowed to.”

Neumann-Hayes assigns most of her homework online, as well as her lessons she teaches in class. She has found her students are more likely to do their homework if it is online.

Neumann-Hayes said, “I have barely made any copies this year because I do the majority of my lessons and assignments online. I think students are more likely to do their assignments if it’s online. It is a great learning tool, especially since they receive immediate feedback on what they did wrong and right on their homework. Plus they get two shots at fixing their mistakes before the grade is automatically updated in the gradebook.

German teacher Elizabeth Schueth said, “I don’t like the idea of going online. By having the option to be online, students don’t try as hard to figure out certain sentences, but instead look them up.”

“I think learning online will hurt students education, instead of having to look things up the old fashion way, with a book,” said Schueth.

Arrowhead is still deciding what their going to do long-term for books and online learning.