For decades, schools relied on physical books for instruction. Today, changes are being witnessed. While it is true that books are still in use, they are gradually being replaced by electronic books (ebooks). Essentially, ebooks are digital copies which can be accessed and read conveniently on such devices as smartphones, tablets and personal computers. Thanks to ebooks, learning has become more cost-effective, convenient and engaging. However, the adoption of ebooks has presented challenges that educational institutions must confront. After an examination of the benefits and costs of ebooks, it is proposed that the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) should remain faithful to traditional physical books instead of embracing ebooks.
Impact of Transition on Stakeholders
As it reflects on whether to move away from traditional print books and towards ebooks, ICO needs to consider how the transition will affect such stakeholders as instructors and students. Some research shows that the transition to ebooks does not have a significant impact on teachers and learners. For instance, Long, Szabo and Hui (2015) conducted a study to determine if there was any difference in the motivation, attitude and comprehension among students who used ebooks and those who relied on print books. These researchers noted that there was no significant difference. This observation is critical as it underscores the enduring influence of print ebooks and adds weight to the suggestion that ICO should not be in a hurry to adopt ebooks. This institution should be guided in making its decision by research that has found that print books may be more effective than ebooks. Singer and Alexander (2017) are among the scholars who have determined that students learn better when they use print books instead of ebooks.
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It is important to note that as schools transition to ebooks, they are poised to experience a number of benefits. Ease of access and convenience are among these benefits (OECD, 2012). As the internet gains greater proliferation, it is becoming easier for individuals to access information. Ebooks have particularly enhanced access. Furthermore, given the wide range of digital devices that support ebooks, students and teachers are able to access information conveniently. During the transition to ebooks, ICO can expect to witness an improvement in the learning process as instructors and learners obtain information with ease. However, the institution should expect complications to arise over such issues as privacy and copyright. It will need to engage authors and publishers so as to obtain permission to use ebooks.
Selling the Change to Stakeholders
If ICO chooses to adopt ebooks, it will need to persuade learners and teachers to support the change. In order to sell this change to these stakeholders, the institution needs to focus on the advantages of ebooks over print books. Some of these advantages include the fact that they offer access to a wide range of resources, cost-effectiveness, permanence, the fact that ebooks can be read on multiple devices and that ebooks are lightweight (Christensen, 2018). By focusing on how ebooks will benefit them, ICO will be successful in securing buy-in from its students and teachers. For example, the school could assure that ebooks will lead to a reduction in tuition since they are cheaper than printed books.
The technology needed to implement this change
The adoption of ebooks requires institutions to have technology in place. Ebook readers and digital libraries are some of these technologies (Shiratuddin et al., 2003). Amazon Kindle is among the most popular readers that ICO could purchase as it prepares for the rollout of ebooks. Today, most smartphones and personal computers also serve as ebook readers. The digital libraries are important as they will facilitate access to ebooks. For instance, ICO could build a digital library where its students and teachers can search for and obtain books on a wide range of subjects. Internet access is another resource that ICO will need to establish. This technology is critical as it will serve as the conduit for students and teachers to access the library.
The issues of moving from a per text fee for students to a possible resource fee (wherein ebooks would be charged to the student as part of tuition)
The adoption of ebooks at ICO will need to be accompanied with a change in how the school charges its students for access to books. Currently, students are charged on a per text basis. The school will need to adopt a new charging system where the fee for ebooks is included in the tuition. This transition is likely to raise issues. An increase in the tuition fee is among these issues. As one would expect, charging the ebooks as part of tuition will lead to a rise in tuition. This rise could trigger opposition and resistance from students. Another issue that ICO should brace for is concerns that the new charging system is unfair as students pay for ebooks that they do not necessarily use. The fee per text system seems fairer as students are only charged for books that they actually use. These issues must be resolved if the transition to ebooks is to proceed smoothly.
The process of negotiating with publishers and the university bookstore to facilitate this transition
Publishers and ICO’s bookstore are other stakeholders whose involvement will be needed for the transition to be successful. This institution will need to negotiate with these stakeholders. As it negotiates with publishers, it should give special focus to securing discounts and other privileges. Furthermore, ICO should leverage the negotiation process to secure friendly terms of using books released by the publishers. The negotiation with the bookstore will largely concern how the store will provide students and teachers with access to ebooks by installing the required infrastructure and technologies. For example, the bookstore could provide students with computers and internet connections. Furthermore, the bookstore could direct students and teachers away from printed books and toward digital copies so as to accelerate the adoption of ebooks and to create a culture where ebooks become the preferred resource.
The impact of this change on students and faculty (include special needs and learning styles of students)
In an earlier discussion, it was noted that the adoption of ebooks will present students and teachers at ICO with various benefits. These benefits range from lower costs to convenience and ease of access. Furthermore, the teachers and students will no longer need to visit a physical location to access printed books since ebooks can be obtained from any location. It is important to note that these benefits may not be enjoyed by all students, especially those with special needs and those whose learning styles require them to engage with physical printed books. For example, ebooks are simply inaccessible for students with visual impairments. Students who require active engagement may also encounter difficulties as they use ebooks. However, it is possible to address these issues. For example, for students with visual impairment, the school could integrate text-to-speech technologies features into the ebooks. This feature will make it possible for the special needs students to use other senses in engaging with ebooks.
The impact of this change on the college’s financial bottom line
Ebooks will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the financial health of ICO. The overall impact of adopting ebook is likely to be positive. This is because ebooks are cheaper compared to printed books (Renner, n.d). Furthermore, institutions and individuals do not incur any maintenance costs. The advantages of ebooks contrast sharply with the high costs of purchasing and maintaining printed books. Additionally, printed books require physical handling and shipping costs are usually incurred. Given that ebooks are cheaper, the adoption of these books will help to buttress ICO’s financial bottom line.
Other Funding Issues
There are additional funding issues that ICO is likely to encounter as it embraces ebooks. Securing financial support for the installation of the resources and technologies needed is among these issues. As noted earlier, the institution will need to acquire internet technologies and digital devices. The acquisition of these resources is likely to be cost-intensive and the institution may need to turn to its partners for support. Phasing out printed books may see the institution incurring further costs for which it may need funding. Whereas it remains true that ebooks offer ICO an opportunity to revolutionize learning, the institution will sustain heavy costs during the initial phase of adopting the ebooks.
Ebooks are a reflection of the future of education. They offer a new approach to delivering instruction. In addition to being lightweight and easy to maintain, ebooks are also cheaper. Since they present numerous benefits, it is fairly easy to recommend ebooks. However, ICO should proceed with caution. Ebooks also have serious drawbacks that could compromise the institution’s capacity to effectively offer services. Among the shortcomings of ebooks include the fact that they do not adequately account for students with special needs and those whose learning styles require constant stimulation and active engagement. Before adopting ebooks, ICO should reflect on and resolve these issues first.
References
Christensen, B. (2018). Advantages of ebooks over printed books- digital v. paper. Medium Corporation. Retrieved February 2, 2019 from https://medium.com/@brettmc1963/advantages-of-ebooks-over-printed-books-digital-v-paper-5340323033bd
Long, D., Szabo, S., & Hui, S. K. F. (2015). E-readers and the effects on students’ reading motivation, attitude and comprehension during guided reading. Cogent Education, 3 (1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2016.1197818
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). (2012). Ebooks: developments and policy considerations. OECD Digital Economy Papers. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/5k912zxg5svh-en Shiratuddin, N., Landoni, M., Gibb, F., & Hassan, S. (2003). E-book technology and its potential applications in distance education. Texas Digital Library. Retrieved February 2, 2019 from https://journals.tdl.org/jodi/index.php/jodi/article/view/90/89
Renner, R. A. (n.d). eBooks-costs and benefits to academic and research libraries. Springer. Retrieved February 2, 2019 from https://static.springer.com/sgw/documents/1343302/application/pdf/eBook_Costs+and+benefits+to+A
Singer, L. M., & Alexander, P. A. (2017). Reading on paper and digitally: what the past decades of empirical research reveal. Review of Educational Research, 87 (6), 1007-41.
