Amazon Kindle (and others) and School

Started by FreakyLocz14 December 26th, 2009 3:52 AM
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  • 12 replies

FreakyLocz14

Conservative Patriot

Male
Seen August 29th, 2018
Posted August 28th, 2018
3,497 posts
14 Years
As a college student I'm impressed with the increased avaliability of my textbooks on Kindle and other e-Readers. Taking 4-6 classes per semester, some with multiple books per class, lunging around textbooks can be tiresome.

In a discussion with some school buddies on whether shelling out the dough for an exorbiantly priced e-Reader is worth it it all came down to this question: Will our e-Textbooks be allowed on open-book exams? For me if the answer is yes, than I may seriously consider purchasing an e-Reader.

The issue is due to the fact that many e-Readers can access the internet, making it easy for students to cheat on open book exams by accessing information from outside the allowed textbook.

If anyone here happens to be a student and owns an e-Reader I would love to hear you thoughts and your experiences using it for school.

Bay

She/They
Dani California
Seen 1 Hour Ago
Posted 1 Hour Ago
6,346 posts
17 Years
Hm, call me old school, but I like highlighting and taking notes on my textbooks. Sometimes I bring them to lectures and I would make take quick notes in them. :P Even those e-textbooks can be able to have me be able to highlight and take notes on certain sections, there might be times my eyes might strained if I look at the computer screen for too long, so I'm able to read better from a book.

Also, I don't think the professors will allow us to use our E-readers. Like you said, they'll be able to access the internet that way and I know the professors at my university are going to do whatever they can to have students not use anything electronic (unless calculators) during tests.
Miles Edgeworth
Foul Play [On Hiatus]
Age 35
Edmonton, AB
Seen January 1st, 2020
Posted January 9th, 2013
117 posts
16.3 Years
I've certainly noticed the increasing trend in textbooks being available for an electronic medium, but I have yet to try this experience through e-Books. But, like the others have already stated, I prefer to read off an actual textbook instead, and emphasize on points by highlighting or underlining. Other than simply being accustomed to this, I just feel that there's something that just doesn't quite stick in your head when you study off of notes on the computer.

The latter option of buying textbooks every semester/quarter is certainly pricier, but if it's a matter of affecting my grades, I'd place importance on that over the financial costs of textbooks in this case.

As for using e-Readers on tests, I don't know anything about that, but from my experiences with electronics, it's out with the gadgets (save for a calculator in some courses).

Esper

California
Seen June 30th, 2018
Posted June 30th, 2018
You have open book exams? In college?

I prefer books, the weight, highlighting, etc. though I have seen one reader that looked just like real ink on paper so I imagine you wouldn't suffer more eye strain on it.

None of my classes have ever allowed anything during exams: cellphones because someone could text you answers, music devices because you could prerecord answers in audio format, and so on. I even had one class where the professor made everyone leave their bags and jackets and things at the front of the room just to be on the safe side. Another professor had you buy your blue books then trade yours for one of his so he could be sure yours didn't have writing in it.

Basically, if they can't be sure you're not cheating they won't allow something so I don't see e-readers being allowed any time soon.

FreakyLocz14

Conservative Patriot

Male
Seen August 29th, 2018
Posted August 28th, 2018
3,497 posts
14 Years
You have open book exams? In college?

I prefer books, the weight, highlighting, etc. though I have seen one reader that looked just like real ink on paper so I imagine you wouldn't suffer more eye strain on it.

None of my classes have ever allowed anything during exams: cellphones because someone could text you answers, music devices because you could prerecord answers in audio format, and so on. I even had one class where the professor made everyone leave their bags and jackets and things at the front of the room just to be on the safe side. Another professor had you buy your blue books then trade yours for one of his so he could be sure yours didn't have writing in it.

Basically, if they can't be sure you're not cheating they won't allow something so I don't see e-readers being allowed any time soon.
Every semester I've had at least one class that had open-book and/or open-notes exams.
Female
Area Unknown
Seen January 4th, 2011
Posted December 25th, 2010
811 posts
14.6 Years
I just got an Amazon Kindle for Christmas. I'm not a college student, but I can tell you the Kindle can both highlight and underline parts of the text, as well allow you to write notes. It might take a little longer, but it's possible (and easy to figure out). And the Kindle isn't lit, so there's no strain on the eyes like there would be reading off of a computer screen (it really does look more like a page in a book than a computer screen). I just read off the Kindle for over an hour last night with no strain on my eyes at all. I'm not too sure about other e-Readers, but the Kindle makes it feasible to use for textbooks.

Hope that helps some. ^,^

Feign

Clain

Seen January 24th, 2023
Posted March 12th, 2011
4,293 posts
14.4 Years
I'd recommend getting the Sony touch ereader, less buttons and overall is better (best to research it for yourself).

Not sure about America, but in Canada, Sony is offering a deal where for every text book you send in to them, they will take $5 off (up to $50), and once that transaction is done, you will get an extra $99 voucher on your next sony store purchase.

Plus if I recall, Sony's one can be used better at Librarys to rent books and such.

Neko

PC's Traveling Artist

Age 31
Female
In your best dreams and worst nightmares
Seen August 25th, 2021
Posted May 2nd, 2015
2,108 posts
17.8 Years
My English teacher was actually talking to me about how she wants to purchase a Kindle once she retires. She was telling me how this one version (I am not sure if it is a Kindle, or some other brand of "e-reader") can transfer texts from one e-reader to another. I thought this was cool, and could be quite useful for college students like you. That way you can easily "loan" out textbooks to each other (I am not sure if there is a copy that stays on the original e-reader, or if it transfers completely). But my concern is this; wouldn't that cause some sort of legal issues down the line? Say if one person buys the textbook, then distributes the text out to all of their friends; wouldn't that be like sharing music or movie illegally? It also think it would not be good for the company themselves.

Feign

Clain

Seen January 24th, 2023
Posted March 12th, 2011
4,293 posts
14.4 Years
I'm not sure I heard about the transfer of purchased items. I believe it was only your own files, done usually via wifi (for the kindle), which also appearantly costs money, per mb to do.

With the Sony ereader, all you're paying for is the ereader itself and the books, it doesn't have wifi. But in this day and age, everything else has internet, so I am not worried.

Charizard★

Age 28
Female
Seen January 28th, 2019
Posted November 13th, 2018
13,369 posts
13.8 Years
Hm, call me old school, but I like highlighting and taking notes on my textbooks. Sometimes I bring them to lectures and I would make take quick notes in them. :P Even those e-textbooks can be able to have me be able to highlight and take notes on certain sections, there might be times my eyes might strained if I look at the computer screen for too long, so I'm able to read better from a book.
I agree, I like to go old school to. Carrying around a Kindle like my dad does sounds to annoying, and what if you break it? All those books you bought goes to waste. :P


Feign

Clain

Seen January 24th, 2023
Posted March 12th, 2011
4,293 posts
14.4 Years
I agree, I like to go old school to. Carrying around a Kindle like my dad does sounds to annoying, and what if you break it? All those books you bought goes to waste. :P
The books you have already purchased stays with you on your respective login, so even if you delete your books on the ereader or break the ereader itself, you can get them back.

FreakyLocz14

Conservative Patriot

Male
Seen August 29th, 2018
Posted August 28th, 2018
3,497 posts
14 Years
I wonder who at school would know whether using an e-Reader on an open book exam is allowed or not. I'm in a program for students with disabilities so I may be able to get an accomidation allowing that even if it isn't allowed for mainstream students.