Running head: TEXTBOOKS SHOULD NOT BE REPLACED 1

Textbooks Should Not Be Replaced by Electronic Devices for Learning

Nimwongcharoensuk Koranis

Academic Composition I

Tokyo International University

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Textbooks Should Not Be Replaced by Electronic Devices for Learning

Are textbooks still necessary in an era where everyone has access to electronic

devices for learning? In the past, hard copies were common material for learners. As time

passes by however, more and more technologies have been invented to support all aspects of

human life. Thanks to technological advancements, media learning, which utilizes electronic

gadgets for education such as tablets, laptops, and mobile phones, was introduced around

2005. Electronic devices allow students to access updated information easily; moreover,

learners can search for material that they do not understand immediately. Students can have

interactions via electronic gadgets. Many schools are gradually applying these technologies to

classrooms. Some of them are trying to replace textbooks with electronic devices. As stated

by Alvarez (2013), the Susquenita School District in Pennsylvania plans to substitute iPads

for textbooks. There are some institutes that have succeeded in getting rid of any traditional

textbooks and using only electronic devices. For instance, Muller Road Middle School in

South Carolina uses only tablets as a learning tool (Alvarez, 2013). However, textbooks

should not be replaced by electronic gadgets for learning since learners can develop a better

memory capacity and solid comprehension as well as have fewer health risks.

Students who learn by using textbooks have better capabilities of retaining

information and have more profound understanding. Textbooks provide tactile sensations

which electronic devices cannot offer. E-book readers are less able to memorize contents

from what they read than readers who used actual books. As stated by research from

Norway's Stavanger University (2014), readers who use Kindle have reduced recollection

when reordering and arranging fourteen events in the correct order (as cited in Flood, 2018).

The research (2014) also indicates that haptic and tactile feedback from Kindle does not assist

in readers recall over a traditional hard copy text (as cited in Flood, 2018). Another research

conducted by Erik Wästlund of Karlstad University in Sweden (n.d.) demonstrates that

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participants who complete reading tests by using computers get lower scores than participants

who do the test on paper (as cited in Jabr, 2013). Books provide students more sensations

such as folding pages and using fingers to flip a page up and turn to other pages which can

support information retention. Also, there are fixities of text in an actual book which can help

students to remember. Students can remember the location of detail which is better than scroll

up and down on screens. Many surveys (n.d.) suggest that e-books cannot provide sensory

experiences such as bending pages; hence, this can decrease retention in long-term memory

(as cited in Grate, 2014). Moreover, people who read on screens are likely to skim the

information rather than reading carefully. A study from Kretzschmar et al. (2013) states that

the lighting from computer a screen encourages people to read passages faster; therefore,

people put less effort in comprehending the text thoroughly (as cited in Myrberg & Wiberg,

2015). Researchers (n.d.) further argue that when participants read on screens, they spend less

time reading passages which leads to less performing well in the comprehension test (as cited

in Baron, 2016). A printed book allows learners to have physical interactions with books and

encourages learners to spend more time reading, contributing to capabilities of memorizing

and greater comprehension.

In terms of health, reading from a printed book is safer than reading from a digital

medium. There are differences between reading from a laptop’s screen and a printed medium.

Display on screens are combinations of various pixels. As a result, readers’ eyes have to

focus more on reading from a screen than reading from a hard copy. According to research

(n.d.), readers are likely to blink less when they read from screens resulting in eye pain (as

cited in Vision Source, 2018). If learners have to learn or read from screens for extended

periods of time, it will lead to Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). Computer Vision

Syndrome is caused by looking at a screen for a long time which goes beyond visual abilities

in a comfortable condition. There are many symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome, such
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as irritated eyes, headaches, and blurred vision. Moreover, traditional book readers will not

be exposed to excessive radiation due to prolonged use since every electronic device emits

radiation called Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR). As stated by Defender Shield (2014), the

emission of Electromagnetic Radiation from electronic devices, such as laptops and mobile

phones, leads to certain serious diseases, namely cancer. Although today’s electronic devices

have been invented to be compact and light, and seem to be safer, they still emit radiation

(Defender Shield, 2014). More importantly, the research from Harvard Medical School (n.d.)

reveals that not only is Electromagnetic Radiation emitted from electronic devices, but these

devices also emit blue light, a hazardous light negatively affecting our life routine (as cited in

Gallagher, 2014). Blue light, one of visible light spectrum, is a short wavelength, so it has

high energy. If users are exposed to blue light for a long time, it can affect users’ circadian

rhythm. As stated by Gallagher (2014), people who read e-books before going to bed lack

adequate sleep and may feel exhausted the next day because blue light can suppress the

production of melatonin which control body clock in human. Using printed books for

learning can decrease issues related to eye strain and also diminish exposure to radiation and

blue light which is emitted by screens or electronic devices.

Some people may argue that using electronic devices is more convenient thanks to

their multi-functionalities. However, because of the various functions provided by electronic

gadgets, students pay less attention and become distracted from doing the task at hand.

Ninety two percent of students felt more focused on task when they read printed texts versus

electronic screens (Baron, 2016). There are many temptations for students who learn via a

screen. For example, students might check Facebook, watch Youtube, or send text messages

to friends which can be distracting. On the other hand, students have less distractions since

textbooks can only be used for reading and taking notes. Baron (2016) demonstrated that

sixty seven percent of participants in her research tended to multitask while reading on digital
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devices. Although there are some regulations in learning, students can hack the learning

programs, skip their lesson, and do other tasks. When students multitask, their brains have to

focus on many tasks at the same time, so students may not effectively receive information.

Due to lack of a solid comprehension, students would have lower performances on their tests.

Students who used laptops and multitasked while they were learning in class received lower

scores on a test (Sana, Weston, & Cepeda, 2013). Despite the fact that electronic devices

provide many functions in one device, they can be sources of distractions which lead to worse

performances on tests. Unlike electronic gadgets, hard copies allow students to fully

concentrate on one task, so they can obtain information more effectively.

Conclusions

There are two reasons why devices cannot be a permanent substitute for printed

books; printed books provide a better comprehension of course materials and memory

capacities and also cause fewer physical health problems. Printed books provide readers with

more physical and visual experiences which reinforce learning. In addition, because of the

light from screens, readers tend to skim rather than read the text carefully resulting in less

understanding of the material. Tendencies in having physical health problems and exposing

to radiation from using devices in extended time can be decreased by using traditional books.

Also, hard copies can prevent learners from blue light which can affect their sleeping

patterns. Although electronic devices can provide various functions for users, they tend to

distract students from learning or reading the material; ultimately leading students to perform

poorly on tests. With all these facts in consideration, schools should consider actual textbooks

as material for learning instead of digital media. Moreover, it could be better if every country

has book rental systems. Not only can pupils save their money, it can also save our

environment from over using resources in publishing books.

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Baron, N. (2016). Do students lose depth in digital reading?. The Conversation. Retrieved

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