There have been plenty of studies that show students
prefer printed text to digital when it comes to their course materials. The educational
technology firm VitalSource Technologies thinks students are starting to
appreciate digital more.
The company’s fifth-annual survey on the impact of technology in education reported that 78% of students use
digital course materials, up 48% from 2011. Affordability was the greatest
benefit to using digital textbooks, according to 34% of the responding college
students, while 31% said digital was more convenient, and 20% said it was more
engaging.
To 61% of the responding students, digital homework was
more interactive and 48% felt their learning was enhanced by digital elements.
A majority of the students (61%) thought the ability digital content provides to
have instant feedback from professors improved their learning and 55% said the
ability to personalize their education with digital was helpful.
“Technology continues to be of critical importance to
students, especially in the classroom,” said Cindy Clarke, VitalSource vice
president of marketing, in a release.
“The research validates the degree to which students depend on technology to
provide them with a competitive edge while they are in school and after
graduation as they prepare to enter the workforce, which is increasingly
digitally literate and globally connected.”
