Last week on Facebook Friday, we asked about worship software.
There are a lot of options out there, but we were interested to see what the ChurchMag community is using (see results).
As schools are beginning to get in gear, let’s see what you think about textbooks and iPads!
This Week’s Facebook Friday Poll
Do you support replacing textbooks with iPads?
- Yes
- No
And give us a “Like!” if you haven’t already! 😉
The Results
Well, then, let’s get started!
[Image via ntr23]
Bryan Chalker says
I remember when CDs fist came out in the long-form boxes. Pretty and all, but useless. When they were transitioning to jewel case only (I worked at a record store at the time), they touted the savings involved with cutting back on the material used in the long-form. Well, we never saw a decrease in our store costs – in fact it increased. There are always “unseen” costs and not-exactly truthful promises made when it comes to new ways of doing things.
I’m torn. I see the massive advantage to using an electronic format. However, privacy concerns are always hovering around issues like this, especially with the government school system getting involved. If schools were providing them, would “they” own them? or the students? I see tuition costs increasing due to it, as well as serious theft. Those are drawbacks that affect our tax dollars directly.
On the other hand, the e-books could be easily managed and maintained using iPads, and POSSIBLY save on the cost to the student for the books. Environmental impact is positive, as well.
There needs to be real debate on this. Definitely worth considering.
NET Bible says
The additional expense is a major concern as well as the care and maintenance of the devices. How many of you ever had a textbook in school that wasn’t vandalized in some way?
One of the cool things about using an electronic medium is being able to provide direct feedback and to quickly make changes to the content when necessary. And pushing new and updated content is very inexpensive (which is one of the reasons we provide the NET Bible as a free download).
So I definitely see the advantages but the cost concern would be the biggest thing to me. Our local school district now allows students to bring devices like iPads and iPhones for educational use. Maybe if the students owned their own devices, but the school provided the content via apps, that might be a workable solution, but you will inevitably have students who cannot afford devices so that raises another obstacle.
I guess I’m saying I’m for it, but there are some big hurdles to getting there.