Ebooks vs.

Print

Brooke Quinones

Western Oregon University

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Introduction
Reading is argumentatively the most important thing you learn. Books, in many formats,

are all around us. We start our experience with books being read to us which evolves to looking

at picture books. We can tell stories by reading the pictures and then start to identify words. This

leads to reading higher level books with pictures and onto chapter books. The desire from this

progression is a love for reading. Reading looks different than it did 20, 10 or even five years

ago. The simple process was holding a paper book while reading the text. We now see reading

on an electronic device or digital books as well as paper books. So, does this change the

importance of reading? No! What is the effect of the electronic devices or digital books? This

became a topic of interest for me as a reader, mother and teacher. Which side should I be on? Do

I have to pick a side?

There are many sides to this debate. The pro argument states that ebooks are eco-friendly,

weigh less and cost effective. The condition of an ebook remains the same. After the initial

device cost, there is a savings over printed copies. The opposition argues that there are related

health issues and high costs. Ebooks have batteries that need to be recharged, which can restrict

reading times. The look and feel of an ebook is not the same as a paper book experience. Most

readers read a book one time and ebooks cant be shared, alluding to the higher cost. With

continual controversy on ebooks vs. print books, we are going to look at some questions that give

great thought to the current changes that ebooks bring. We will examine 1) the livelihood of

bookstores 2) medical concerns and 3) the impact on education.

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Livelihood of Bookstores

There are many discussions about how long bookstores will stay open. Since Amazon

and the advancements in technology, people find it easier to buy a book on online or download

them to a mobile device. So, what affect will ebooks have on bookstores? Gillies (2013), points

out the astonishing rise in ebook usage. He stated that In 2010, 6 percent of North Americans

used such a device; by 2012, the number had exploded to 33 percent (Gillies, 2013); what

impact do those findings have on bookstores?

Bookstores are more than a place to buy a book. They provide a calming atmosphere, and

you can stroll the aisles looking for something that will catch your eye. Many bookstores have

coffee shops, allowing for customers to read a portion of an interesting book prior to purchasing

it. Publishers depend on browsing to keep sales up. Bosman (2012), says that surveys indicate

that only a third of the people who step into a bookstore and walk out with a book actually

arrived with the specific desire to buy one. This comes from the use of display cases and

promotions. I know that I have entered our local bookstore and I have left with many more books

than I planned on purchasing. This happens when my children see a display of books by one of

their favorite authors and I have a hard time saying no to books! I have also gone in to look for a

book for my classroom and I leave with a few. Even with all that bookstores provide, they are

losing ground to other book options.

Since 2002, the United States has seen a great decrease in bookstores. Nearly one out of

five independent stores closed and about 650 bookstores closed when Borders went out of
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business. With Barnes and Noble still standing, they have an understanding of the battle between

ebooks and print. With this information, the CEO of Barnes and Noble decided to join the

technology rage and had the Nook designed. Mr. Lynch says Barnes & Noble stores will

endure. The idea that devices like the Nook, Kindle and Apple iPad will make bookstores

obsolete is nonsense, (Bosman, 2012). With the addition of the Nook, Barnes & Noble has

made changes to their display case providing its customers with a chance to see and use a Nook

prior to purchasing. They are mimicking the paper book shopping idea with a tablet. With

information that ebooks will continue to advance and print books, along with bookstores, will

coexist, we can look at the effect ebooks or tablets will have on its users.

Medical Concerns

There is much talk about the positives and negatives from a medical standpoint.

Researchers against the use of tablets pose an environmental concern. According to ProCon.org,

research shows that the production of tablets creates a much higher environmental impact than

the production of paper books.

ProCon.org (2017) states that According to the New York Times, the "adverse health

impacts from making one e-reader are estimated to be 70 times greater than those from

making a single book." One tablet requires the extraction of 33 pounds of minerals, 79

gallons of water, and 100 kilowatt hours of fossil fuels resulting in 66 pounds of carbon

dioxide. Print books produce 100 times fewer greenhouse gases. Two gallons of water are

required to make the pulp slurry that is pressed and heat-dried to make paper, and only

two kilowatt hours are required to form and dry the sheets of paper.
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With a high impact on the environment, are there enough benefits to outway the cost of ebooks?

There is much controversy around the affects of ebooks on user's eyes. Do ebooks cause

eye strain? The answer is, no! Strain can occur while reading on technology but it is caused by

many different factors, not the technology itself. Strain can be caused from a combination of

ergonomics, font size, lighting, and readers blinking rate.

IPads in Education (2012), provides helpful tips for healthy reading:

Adjust your screen brightness manually to find the best contrast for your particular

reading conditions (dont rely on the iPads auto-brightness sensors).

Try switching to White on Black mode (located in the Accessibility section of your

iPads General Settings menu) to improve the clarity of text. This setting reverses the

screens colors temporarily.

Take periodic breaks whenever you are engaged in long reading sessions by looking

away from the screen and focusing on a distant object for 20 seconds.

If you experience repeated headaches or other symptoms when using an iPad, contact

your doctor or healthcare specialist.

Having an understanding of how to properly use technology can be beneficial to your health.

Further benefit is seen by ophthalmologists. People that suffer from macular degeneration

find it easier to read on an ebook than print. Macular degeneration has affected two of my

grandparents causing this research to hit close to home. Finding a way that my grandfather can

comfortably read news articles is important. With the ability to enlarge print, change font size

and style while reading allows readers to make necessary changes that they would be unable to

do with a printed book. Allowing the older generation the use of new technology that could make
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their lives more comfortable is important. According to Abrams (2012), Preference was

correlated to degree of vision loss. The most severe (20/50 to 20/80) preferred the iPad2, the

milder cases (20/30 to 20/40) preferred the Kindle, and those with near-perfect vision stuck with

good old-fashioned newsprint. Research shows that the benefits outweigh the cost for the the

older generation. What is the effect on the younger generation?

Recent studies show that media monopolizes 3-7 hours daily for children ages 3-8. This

is alarming when you calculate how much time one should be learning, sleeping, eating,

exercising and exploring. Even if the use of technology is for educational purposes there needs to

be a limit. Kids need to learn through exploration, manipulatives and trial and error. Is the use of

technology limiting the growth of the younger generation? This is an area that will continue to be

in debate. Who needs to be limiting the use of technology? Is it the responsibility of parents,

teachers or a combination?

Education

Should technology be allowed in classrooms? This has become one of the most highly

debated topics when discussing the use of technology. What will this do for education? Will the

use of ebooks and other technology in the classroom replace the use of print books? Can schools

afford supplying and maintaining technology? This section will be broken down into efficiency

and engagement of technology in schools.

The efficiency of mobile technology is widespread. Some areas are weight, cost and use.

There is a significant difference when comparing the weight of textbooks and a mobile device
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such as an iPad or Kindle. Padova (2001) found that the average 11.8 pounds of books can be

reduced to less than 2 pounds (page 3). This shows us the benefit of not straining childrens

backs with heavy backpacks. There is a cost savings when you access the device as a complete

learning unit. If used to replace textbooks, there is a high initial cost. Most subsequent costs are

relatively low and are outweighed by the frequent updates available on a mobile device over a

printed book. The other options the device provides is allowing students access to technology.

This could be to research topics for school related work as well as to type papers. Teachers can

monitor what work is being completed which keeps students accountable in a more efficient

way. In order for ebooks and other mobile devices to be used to their full potential, teachers and

parents need to be educated on proper use of the device. With the cost benefits continually

fluctuating, we can look at the proper use and engagement of technology to gain a better

understanding of the benefits vs. concerns.

Whether a mobile device is being used at home or at school, having an understanding of

the apps that are being played is beneficial for the learner. According to Linda

Darling-Hammonds report, Take a Giant Step, it is important to teach children in a way that

matches current trends in technology. Understanding technology and being prepared to teach

developmentally appropriate information is key to the success of learners and the use of the

technology. Darling-Hammond states that teaching is intentional, learning is engaging, and

community matters most (as cited in Levine, 2011).

Guernsey & Levine (2015) feel that teachers and parents need to have a Tap, Click, Read

mindset.
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Tap: Instead of just tapping open apps, lets not be afraid to tap into new networks of

learning for our children and for ourselves as adults. Todays media allow for educators

and families to access rich worlds of content and ideas beyond their homes and

communities. We should also be mining forgotten or hidden public assets, like libraries

and public media.

Click: We need to recognize that to click is to choose, to make a decision, to act.

Marketers and their clickbait have made us think we have no choice. But clicking is not

and should not be mindless. When a child or parent clicks inside a text, they have opted

to dig further, they wonder what is beyond. Lets embrace that as an opportunity and

pathway that could be filled with intention-not as a distraction.

Read: Everyone interested in the success of future generations should recognize that

reading will always be a critical skill and a key barometer of progress. You cannot fully

function in the twenty-first century without being able to read. You cannot achieve any

kind of success without literacy. We also should recognize that the contours of literacy

have evolved and expanded over time, and now even more skill and attention are required

to teach it well.

With this information in mind, educators (parents included) should make informed decisions on

what they are putting in front of students. Technology should not be used as a babysitter but as a

tool to further a child's education.

Conclusion
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With the information provided, it can be said that ebooks along with other mobile

technology devices are making their way into the hands of many people. Research above shows

that with the rise of these devices, bookstores are seeing a dip in sales of print books. However,

we know that print books will not become obsolete. According to a survey completed by Michael

Levine at the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, students who used a mix of digital and print resources

outscored those who only used print.

Making an educated decision regarding technology is key to the success of any learner.

Having an understanding of the pros and cons and knowing how those directly affect you, is key.

Technology is continually changing and we need to be ready and flexible. I am invested in this as

a parent and teacher. I see benefits of my child learning through apps, movies, and games. This

takes place even when they are unaware of the educational purpose. There are times such as a

long car ride that technology can be a great tool. I have done research and have appropriately

placed apps on devices to enrich my children's learning.

In my classroom I use technology as an incentive for completing work. I have, with the

input of my teaching team, thoughtfully placed apps on the iPads that are appropriate for my

students. They can practice writing letters, listen to a story, solve math problems and much more.

I do have concerns that they may get too much time throughout the day but I find comfort in

knowing that when they are with me they are using technology to further their education in an

engaging way.

In the end, I do not want to pick a side. I have a desire to see bookstore thrive among the

use of technology. I see the need for ebooks and print. I want our older generation to benefit

from the ability to enlarge print and continue to read later in life. I want the younger generation
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to be able to hear a story being read with animated pictures and actively participate in

comprehension questions without realizing that they are working. I also want to be able to hold a

book in my hands and be able to grab the listener's attention, pulling them into the story and

building their desire to read. This is a topic that will continually be in debate and that is okay.

The main goal from all parties involved is to keep reading, no matter the format!
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References

Abrams, L. (2012, November 13). Study: In Macular Degeneration, iPads Are Better Than Print.
Retrieved from
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/11/study-in-macular-degeneration-ipads-are-bett
er-than-print/265120/

Barseghian, T. (2012, May 29). For Young Readers, Print or Digital Books? Retrieved from
http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2012/05/29/for-young-readers-print-or-digital-books/

Bosman, J. (2012, January 28). The Bookstores Last Stand - The New York Times. Retrieved
from
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/business/barnes-noble-taking-on-amazon-in-the-fight-of-its
-life.html

Deam, J. (n.d.). E-Books vs. Print: What Parents Need to Know. Retrieved from
http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/developing-reading-skills/e-books-vs-print-
what-parents-need-to-know

Gillies, B. (2013, March 17).

Http://www.troymedia.com/are-libraries-becoming-obsolete-by-benjamin-gillies/. Retrieved
from http://www.troymedia.com/are-libraries-becoming-obsolete-by-benjamin-gillies/

Greenfield, J. (2014, August 20). Ebooks Will Make Us Dumber, Or They Won't. Forbes.
Retrieved from
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeremygreenfield/2014/08/20/will-ebooks-make-us-dumber/#6b887
8ee5ec9

Guernsey, L., & Levine, M. (2012, December 13). Educational Apps Alone Won't Teach Your
Kid To Read. Future Tense.

Guernsey, L., & Levine, M. H. (2015). Tap, click, read: Growing readers in a world of screens.
San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass & Pfeiffer Imprints, Wiley.

IPads in Education: Can reading on an iPad affect your eyesight? - Subtext. (2012, May 18).
Retrieved from http://www.subtext.com/can-reading-on-an-ipad-affect-your-eyesight
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Levine, M. (2011, November 08). Transforming Teaching For Today's Tech-Savvy Young
Children. Retrieved from
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-levine/transforming-teaching-for_b_1080476.html

Levine, M. (2012, May 29). No More Reading Wars! Getting Ahead of the Transition From Print
to Digital Books. Retrieved from
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-levine/no-more-reading-wars-plea_b_1552427.html

Padova, Ted. (2001). Where are we headed with eBooks? Planet eBook.
http://www.planetebook.com/mainpage.asp?webpageid=110

ProCon.org. (2017, February 7). Tablets vs. Textbooks ProCon.org. Retrieved from
http://tablets-textbooks.procon.org/