Monday, August 29, 2005
Three classes this semester have started using online versions of textbooks as a cheaper alternative to traditional textbooks. Students have mixed reactions about the online versions’ value.
Principles of Macroeconomics, Principles of Microeconomics and Principles of Physical Geography now use a digital textbook, although students can still buy the regular textbook. Students purchase an online registration number and then are able download the digital version onto their computer.
Bill Madl, Jayhawk Bookstore textbook manager, said not purchasing the textbook saves about one-third of textbook costs. Jayhawk Bookstore, 1420 Crescent Road, sells a bundle with the textbook and registration for the online version for macro- and microeconomics for $96, while the online version costs $68 by itself.
For geography, the prices are $105 for the physical book and $52 for the online version.
Madl said some students who purchased the online version came back to buy the physical textbook. Students like the flexibility of having the traditional book, Madl said. Students can flip through the book, make notes, highlight and don’t need to be at a computer to read the text.
Neal Becker, assistant professor of economics, is using the online text for the first time for his macroeconomics class. He said the online text can be inconvenient because it has to be downloaded to a computer.
Becker said publishers can use the online versions as a barrier to the used textbook market, because students can’t sell back the digital book. The publisher can make students buy new registration numbers each semester.
An advantage is the registration number also gives student access to online practice exercises and homework assignments, which are automatically graded, Becker said.
Students get immediate feedback on practice problems, and teaching assistants don’t need to grade the online assignments, Becker said.
“It gives us a lot of flexibility,” Becker said.
Madl said publishers would produce more online versions as technology improves. But students have mixed opinions about the online versions’ usefulness.
Steven Griswold, Forsyth, Ill., freshman, bought the textbook along with the online version. He said he wanted the book because he doesn’t have his own computer. Even though buying the text was more costly, he said having the actual book was worth it.
Ryan Kusmin, Leawood junior, bought both the print version and the online registration for his microeconomics class.
Kusmin said he bought his textbook at www.half.com, an online bookstore, but he had to buy the online registration later. He said he spent $10 more than if he had purchased the bundle.
Cooper Martin, Olathe senior, bought only the online version. He said the price was the reason he didn’t buy the book.
“The cheapest way to do it is all online,” Martin said. “Buying the book would be a waste of money.”
— Edited by Katie Lohrenz
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