No More Textbooks?

by Meredith Penczek

New this year are EBooks. Ebooks, text books over the internet, are used in all of the biology classes. EBooks were introduced into PCHS as a step to moving into the technological age of teaching. EBooks are also helpful because more students are signing up to take biology classes. All biology students, even those without internet, were asked to set up an EBook account. Many students had trouble creating their accounts. Most of the problems were caused by issues with creating a username.

Freshman Renna Throneburg said, “I had to try three or four times because it would not take my username.”

One of the main pluses to having EBooks is having one less book to lug home with you when there’s homework. On the other hand, one of the downsides is the students with slow or no internet still have to take the book home. Also, students with slow internet take longer on their homework because unlike with a physical book, the EBook has to go page to page instead of just flipping to the section you need if you don’t know the page number.

Many students find it easier to read through the book on the computer though. However, using the internet does cause problems. Some students have already had problems with their internet being down so they can’t do the assignments, and some students have trouble focusing when they know sites like Facebook and Myspace are only a click away.

Freshman Quinn Shockely said, “Yeah, I have drifted off from reading to check status updates, but I’m getting better at waiting until I’m done with my homework or studying.”

It sounds like the new EBooks do have their upsides as well as their downsides. The big questions most students are asking is, "Are they here to stay?"