Earlier this week the Minneapolis Star Tribune posted an interesting article on ebooks for kids. It seems the jury is still out on the impact of ebooks on students….

But schools may want to pause before jumping on the e-book bandwagon. Recent studies suggest that printed books continue to have important advantages over digital ones.

Not only do they accommodate a wider array of learning styles, but they also encourage more attentive reading and study. And if there’s anything in short supply among students today, it’s attentiveness.

On the plus side though…

They can be updated quickly with new information. They promise cost savings, at least over the long haul. They reduce paper and photocopier use. And they’re lightweight, freeing students from the torso-straining load of
book-filled backpacks.

As anyone with kids in school today knows the back issue is not to be overlooked. Heck I can barely lift my grade schoolers’ bags. But I know myself from reading online it is different from reading offline. And taking notes on the Ultra High Speed Broadband Task Force has taught me that taking notes on a laptop is different – although I know feel like I can take notes and take in the information. There must be a time and a place for all forums – because not only are there advantages to each but as the world goes progressively online they will want to have the skills to work within it.