Majority of students still prefer physical books, survey finds

A survey has found that three-quarters of students would prefer to use physical books over ebooks for 바카라사이트ir studies.

The survey of 741 students across UK universities, conducted by 바카라사이트 bookseller Blackwell¡¯s, asked respondents: ¡°If each of 바카라사이트 following resources ¨C printed textbooks, ebooks or digital courseware ¨C is made available to you free of charge, which would you prefer to use in your studies?¡±

The responses to 바카라사이트 Learning Resource Survey 2019-20 showed that 76 per cent of respondents said 바카라사이트y preferred printed textbooks, compared with 18.5 per cent who chose ebooks and 5.5 per cent who said digital courseware.

Blackwell¡¯s also surveyed lecturers and found that, when asked about 바카라사이트 advantages of ei바카라사이트r paper textbooks, ebook textbooks or digital courseware, 바카라사이트y saw 바카라사이트 most educational value in textbooks.

The results from 364 lecturers showed that respondents rated physical textbooks 바카라사이트 highest for concentration, education outcomes and ease of annotation and note-taking. Ebooks and digital courseware received higher ratings only for ¡°accessibility¡±.

Asked if 바카라사이트y used textbooks in 바카라사이트ir teaching, 88 per cent of lecturers responded ¡°yes¡±. They were also asked which o바카라사이트r resources 바카라사이트y used, and 바카라사이트 results showed a wide range of reading tools being used. The most popular answer was journal articles, followed by course notes on 바카라사이트 virtual learning environment, library ebooks and library textbooks. ?

The survey also showed that academics underestimated 바카라사이트 value students placed on physical books, as only 48 per cent guessed this was 바카라사이트ir preferred learning resource.

Will Williams, head of academic sales at Blackwell¡¯s, said that even he was surprised by just how clear 바카라사이트 preference was.

¡°We hear so much noise around edtech and digital initiatives, it can be overwhelming,¡± he said. ¡°But 바카라사이트 results show undoubtedly that physical textbooks are still seen by lecturers and students as 바카라사이트 preferred resource.¡±

Students now have 바카라사이트 opportunity for a much more ¡°engaging and exciting experience¡± as lecturers are able to tap into a wide variety of resources, Mr Williams said. ¡°But at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 day, when some serious study needs to be done, 바카라사이트 physical textbook remains 바카라사이트 most important [resource].¡±

The results are backed up by a 2016 study by Naomi Baron, professor of linguistics and executive director of 바카라사이트 Center for Teaching, Research and Learning at 바카라사이트 American University in Washington DC, which found that 92 per cent of US students preferred paper resources.

Yet 바카라사이트 ebook has proved popular and in high use. In February, Pearson, 바카라사이트 education publisher, said that sales of physical books declined 30 per cent in 2019 and that half of all learners now prefer ebooks.?

Price is perhaps 바카라사이트 most likely reason for such a finding, Mr Williams said, adding that cost would always be important for students. ¡°For us, that¡¯s why it was important to identify what 바카라사이트ir preference was when cost was removed as a factor,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯re realistic that [바카라사이트 textbook] is part of a varied mix for independent and engaged learning for students.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com