As Bergen County Academies becomes more and more technology-oriented, online textbooks are slowly finding their way into classrooms.
BCA is already a highly technical school. Assignments, test scores, and registration for classes are all managed online. The traditional “pen and paper method” is becoming less common, as websites and online programs make academic processes more convenient.
However, most classes still provide students with one or more hard-copy textbooks, rather than online versions. For instance, freshmen in the Advanced Analysis 1 course are provided with two hard-copy textbooks, with no online versions.
Some other classes provide students with access to both, online and hard-copy versions. Yet, the ability to have purely online textbooks raises the question: should BCA become a hardcopy-textbook-free school, and provide only online versions?
Out of 100 BCA students surveyed, 18% said they preferred online versions, 21% said they preferred hard-copy textbooks, and 61% said they preferred both, depending on what they want to achieve.
Several students said they preferred either hard-copy or online versions depending on the situation. One sophomore stated, “I want to have a hard copy of course, but having an online version is very helpful in case I forget to bring my textbook somewhere, at least I have access to it whenever I need it.”
Another junior said, “The textbook is always reliable in case I find myself in a situation in which I can’t use an electronic device. The online version is ideal when I bring my laptop to school and I need to quickly finish a textbook assignment without all the extra weight.”
Nastasia Klevak, a freshman in AAST, said “no” to only using online versions of textbooks.
“Reading on the computer screen hurts my eyes and the words begin to blur together,” said Klevak. She also said that she “gets distracted online,” due to the many websites and applications a click away.
However, Klevak said that BCA should still provide online access. She added that “in some cases there is too much stuff to carry,” and some prefer reading online. “For the people who prefer online textbooks, because of the diverse learning society, the school should adapt to learning needs.”
“If I had a choice, I would save money on textbooks and use free textbooks on ck12.org.”
Another student, Anjana Prakasam , freshmen in AMST, agreed with Klevak, and said both online textbooks and their hardcopies should be provided by the school. She said online copies better catch her attention. “I prefer online because, when I read hardcopies I always seem to fall asleep if the copy is uninteresting and I have to read it for homework.”
However, Prakasam said, “Sometimes people like the feel[ing] of turning a textbook…post-its can be used for studying, not all online versions allow you to that. And online versions can be very distracting. I go on random websites.” She added that hardcopy textbooks can be a heavy burden to carry as well.
However, along with preferences, there is the question of cost, as even online versions can cost up to several hundred dollars if bought from official textbook distributors. Mr. Zhang, a Biology teacher at BCA, uses iPads in class with online versions of the textbook, and said there may be another option for providing online textbooks.
He brought up ck12.org, a website that offers access to free textbooks of many different subjects as well as other teacher resources. He said the site allows for “customizing” and “collaborating”, not available elsewhere.
Mr. Zhang said, “If I had a choice, I would save money on textbooks and use free textbooks on ck12.org.”
Ck12.org is just one of multiple sources that provide open textbooks, or free online textbooks for students.
Whatever the format, with BCA constantly adding new technology to its classrooms, the school board may need to consider providing students with online textbooks.