As a world that has adjusted to working, going to school and living all from home, screens and technology have been a necessity for those trying to complete school and their jobs. Has the move to computers during the shutdown raised questions in schools about what works better, screens or books? As a student, I like the ease and quickness of being able to open my computer and have an endless amount of resources, books and learning tools right in front of me.
There are many problems with trying to convert schooling to run through computers. Some people simply can’t afford to send their kids to school with an expensive device that can easily cost over $1000.
Teachers have an easier time assigning work to students through an online platform. This increases the chance of all students completing the work. Without electronics, simply relying on memory and discipline to write down assignments seems like a great way to have several missing assignments. Having a device that has all the assignments right in front of me with instructions about how to complete them makes being a student much easier.
Homework assignments may be online, but for classes like English, where a lot of reading is done, I think that there is a higher need for real books. I know that a reader can get tired of a screen really fast, and some people absorb the information better when it is coming from a traditional book. Especially for English, or a class where you need to complete a reading assignment. .Students said they preferred and performed better when reading on screens.
I believe that there are pluses and minuses to both traditional books and electronic books, but they both help students complete their assignments. I don’t think a clear-cut decision on which is better can be made. At times one will be more convenient for the other. Personally, I like using a computer more than traditional books, it allows me to have several books on one device, and minimizes what I need to carry. But the final decision comes down to how the user learns and how convenient each option is for the user and their family.