Most U.S. College Students Now Prefer Digital Reading

[Cindy]

Agreed. I hope I haven't given the impression that I'm trying to shut down the question. I just don't like when media uses fear of technology to fuel the "change is automatically bad" mentality. I'd love to see an actual study that explores the productivity of studying on tablets vs using regular textbooks. It's definitely easier on the back than carrying around multiple hardcovers. 

I'd also be interested in the effect on the eyes. I'm hesitant to upgrade to a newer tablet with a backlit screen because I spend enough time staring at a computer monitor all day. If anyone has any info on research on either area I'd be very interested. 

> Cindy
>  
> ----------
> Cynthia Greenan, MLS
> Submissions Coordinator
> Portal of Geriatric Online Education (POGOe.org)




On Mar 20, 2012, at 4:53 PM, "Sandford, Mark" <SANDFORDM1 at WPUNJ.EDU> wrote:

> There’s reason to be skeptical of either side of the argument.  Personally, I don’t bother looking up words when I’m reading unless it’s vital for understanding precisely because I don’t like the distraction.  I’d rather keep reading.  But that’s me.  You say you get just as engrossed on your e-reader as in a physical book.  I do, too.  But I don’t read dry work-related materials on my e-reader, so getting engrossed isn’t that difficult.  Generally, students aren’t going to get engrossed by many of their textbooks, regardless of format.
>  
> Do students study as effectively on a tablet as they do with a book?  I don’t know, but it seems like it’s worth asking.
>  
> Mark
>  
>  
> Mark Sandford
> Special Formats Cataloger
> Cheng Library
> William Paterson University
> (973) 720-2437
>  
>  
>  
>  
> From: Web technologies in libraries [mailto:WEB4LIB at LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of Cindy
> Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2012 4:22 PM
> To: WEB4LIB at LISTSERV.ND.EDU
> Subject: Re: [WEB4LIB] Most U.S. College Students Now Prefer Digital Reading
>  
> I'm still skeptical. Maybe because I use an older version of the kindle that doesn't have internet access (though it does have games). That NY Times article doesn't seem to provide any real data. "some of the millions of consumers" find it distracting. How many? My personal experience is that I get just as engrossed in my kindle as I do in a regular book. And the ability to look up a word with the click of a button is amazingly helpful. 
>  
> I understand the worry about multi-tasking and distractions in the digital age, but I don't think there's any difference in distraction from the person who reads on an e-reader to the person who reads a regular book but has any number of other gadgets on their person. A text or call, which would vibrate or ring in your pocket, would seem to be more of a distraction than having to close your book on the ereader to find an app. 
>  
> Cindy
>  
> ----------
> Cynthia Greenan, MLS
> Submissions Coordinator
> Portal of Geriatric Online Education (POGOe.org)
>  
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