Textbooks cost so much that students are wise to scour the market for best buys. But how can you compare textbooks
among so many sources: new and used books at the college bookstore, new
and used books from online retailers, used books that classmates are
selling on Facebook, rental books, and electronic versions?
Here are a few hints, which assume that you're a good shopper but want to know more about text buying and its impact on you as a student.
How Do You Study?
Different people study in a different ways. Some people have to start from a clean page; some people don't notice anything except the words. Some people have to mark to remember; some people create categories in their mental file cabinet with no page markings at all; some people do their note taking on separate pages -- perhaps in the same notebook as their class notes.
Those differences affect your textbook choices.
* If you must mark your own texts: Used books must be in a "Very Good" condition; you can't rent books (because you can't return them clean); and e-books only work if your e-reader lets you mark them.
* If you don't mark texts but must start with a clean page: Used books must be in "Very Good" condition; you can rent books; and e-books are pristine!
* If you notate separate pages: Used book condition doesn't matter; you can rent books; you can choose any e-books.
What Kinds of Screen Use Does Your Curriculum Require?
Your eyes aren't designed to spend 14 hours of a day to focusing on a computer screen. And depending on your curriculum, e-texts could put you in that position. So when you compare texts, consider your overall screen usage:
* Students in the sciences, visual and performing arts, and many social sciences spend time in the field or in labs where they use their eyes naturalistically. They only spend part of their academic time working with texts or writing on-screen. E-texts would not add excessive screen time.
* Students of history, literature, and some other social science spend most of their academic time reading or writing. Research is often done in on-line scholarly databases. E-texts could increase screen time to a level that is fatiguing, and reduces your effectiveness.
If you choose e-texts for a different reason (convenience or cost), consider picking up an inexpensive pair of fashionable "computer glasses" to wear when you're onscreen. The lenses focus at the proper distance so your eyes don't have to do the work and you will be less fatigued.
Here are a few hints, which assume that you're a good shopper but want to know more about text buying and its impact on you as a student.
How Do You Study?
Different people study in a different ways. Some people have to start from a clean page; some people don't notice anything except the words. Some people have to mark to remember; some people create categories in their mental file cabinet with no page markings at all; some people do their note taking on separate pages -- perhaps in the same notebook as their class notes.
Those differences affect your textbook choices.
* If you must mark your own texts: Used books must be in a "Very Good" condition; you can't rent books (because you can't return them clean); and e-books only work if your e-reader lets you mark them.
* If you don't mark texts but must start with a clean page: Used books must be in "Very Good" condition; you can rent books; and e-books are pristine!
* If you notate separate pages: Used book condition doesn't matter; you can rent books; you can choose any e-books.
What Kinds of Screen Use Does Your Curriculum Require?
Your eyes aren't designed to spend 14 hours of a day to focusing on a computer screen. And depending on your curriculum, e-texts could put you in that position. So when you compare texts, consider your overall screen usage:
* Students in the sciences, visual and performing arts, and many social sciences spend time in the field or in labs where they use their eyes naturalistically. They only spend part of their academic time working with texts or writing on-screen. E-texts would not add excessive screen time.
* Students of history, literature, and some other social science spend most of their academic time reading or writing. Research is often done in on-line scholarly databases. E-texts could increase screen time to a level that is fatiguing, and reduces your effectiveness.
If you choose e-texts for a different reason (convenience or cost), consider picking up an inexpensive pair of fashionable "computer glasses" to wear when you're onscreen. The lenses focus at the proper distance so your eyes don't have to do the work and you will be less fatigued.
No comments:
Post a Comment