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College Students Still Prefer Print Despite Growing eTextbook Popularity

 

SEATTLE, Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Most college students still prefer print textbooks over eTextbooks, though the digital medium is gaining  favor. Direct Textbook surveyed more than 1,100 college students and found that:


54% prefer print textbooks for academic learning
40% prefer eTextbooks
6% have no preference 

Still, comparisons to identical surveys conducted in 2021 and 2015 indicate that eTextbooks are gaining popularity – up 11% from 2021 and 13% from 2015 – while print preference has declined by 8% since 2021 and 18% since 2015.


Students who prefer print cite these reasons:

  1. Easier to read: 75%
  2. Difficulty concentrating on eTextbooks: 64%
  3. The ability to physically highlight: 68%
  4. Internet access isn't required: 49%
  5. eTextbooks are difficult to navigate and bookmark: 46%
  6. eTextbooks make students' eyes hurt: 50%
  7. The ability to write on pages: 39%
  8. The ability to resell print textbooks: 24%
  9. They end up printing eTextbooks anyway: 27%

When I read about why students prefer print, it makes me concerned about the formats that the books are given to the students. These books should be available in a format that allows students to make book accommodations and more. 

1. When I have worked with students who are trying to read ebooks on a device like a Kindle I usually find that they haven't changed the font size, and when they do go larger they are much happier and state how much easier the content is to read.  So make sure to see if you can't change the text size.

2. eText can be harder to concentrate especially on something like a laptop or desktop that gives you announcements all the time. Find out how to turn them off for a period of time and the concentration can be easier.

3. All etexts should allow for highlighting and note taking and bookmarking. If your doesn't complain to the publisher and get them to fix that. One thing that I love about my kindle is that when I'm reading I can highlight and take margin notes, and then I can export those highlights/notes and use them elsewhere to make better notes and concept maps.

4. I agree that if the internet is required then the book isn't set right.

5. see 3

6. This can be fixed by reading with an eink device and new color eink devices are now available. This could also be eyestrain, remember to look away minute or so. People get very used to starring at a screen.  
20-20-20 Rule:
1) every 20 minutes,
2) take a break for 20 seconds,
3) look at something at least 20 feet away (or just close your eyes).

7. see 3

8. true

9. Totally understandable if you are not adjusting the book to your personal needs (font, size, brightness) the ability to read the book without internet, and one that doesn't allow you to highlight/note. 


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