With everything transferring online, the question still remains: is it better to read digitally or physically? Although there are both pros and cons to reading online books or paper books, many still hold a preference one to the other.
There are many reasons why students and teachers might choose online over physical or vice versa. From the way the book feels, looks, or how accessible they are, everything becomes a factor when trying to find a good book to settle down with.
“I just like the feeling of the books and it’s a lot easier to read,” freshman Leah Graham said. “I can physically touch them[paper books] and the screens hurt my eyes.”
I just like the feeling of the books and it’s a lot easier to read. I can physically touch them [paper books] and the screens hurt my eyes.
— freshman Leah Graham
Although some simply read for enjoyment, a variety of students are bound to have a favored way to study and learn when taking classes.
“If it’s for actually trying to remember the knowledge, actually trying to get something out of it then I like physically turning the pages,” sophomore Mason Coombs said. “It helps me to remember it better.”
When it comes to accessibility and efficiency there are many differing opinions on where it is the easiest to get the book. Junior Dexter Opps believes that it is easier to access and carry around an online textbook compared to a physical copy.
“I don’t have to carry it around, I can access it whenever I need,” Opps said. “It’s just easier to find.”
However, Graham has a different opinion on how accessible physical books are and where you can find them compared to online books and articles, when asked which is easier to access books.
“I think the libraries are[easier] because they have multiple copies,” Graham said. “When you read them online you have to put them on hold sometimes and it takes forever.”
Teachers have a different point of view when it comes to textbooks and which are better for the students.
I think that they both have their own advantages. I think overall the actual physical textbooks the students seem to like better. I do like having the physical textbook there for them to touch and feel and flip through, I think there’s something to that physical tactile stuff to help with their learning.
— biology teacher Mrs. Lenita Moore
“I think that they both have their own advantages. I think overall the actual physical textbooks the students seem to like better,” said biology teacher Mrs. Lenita Moore. “I do like having the physical textbook there for them to touch and feel and flip through, I think there’s something to that physical tactile stuff to help with their learning.”
Whether you like reading online, physically, or not at all you can find books here, books there, or wherever you may happen to look.
“To find vocab words I’m gonna use the control f feature we have,” Coombs said. “ it’s just so much easier.”
