Thread: The loss of basic skills in school

Originally Posted by gugi

Apple - iPad 2 - All-new design. Video calls. HD video. And more. : "Starting at 499"

Resale price of old iPads is also higher than that of used textbooks, but even without that using it for 3 semesters (and as an electronic textbook only) makes it a cheaper option than traditional textbooks.

I graduated from an online college that used e-textbooks. They were in PDF format and I was able to use my Dell WinXP laptop and/or my Dell desktop. Can a student today still use a laptop or desktop instead of having to purchase an iPad? My point here is, if you have a laptop with Adobe Reader, why go out and purchase an iPad?

No idea, I don't have an iPad since I need much more computing than it can offer, and haven't convinced myself it's a good enough toy to get just for fun. There are cheaper PDF readers too.

I've been using the electronic versions of scientific publications for many years now, but I still print paper copies fairly often. Annotating electronic document is still more cumbersome for me than a paper one, although it's not clean cut, both have advantages and disadvantages and the electronic is destined to win.

Originally Posted by gugi

No idea, I don't have an iPad since I need much more computing than it can offer, and haven't convinced myself it's a good enough toy to get just for fun. There are cheaper PDF readers too.

I've been using the electronic versions of scientific publications for many years now, but I still print paper copies fairly often. Annotating electronic document is still more cumbersome for me than a paper one, although it's not clean cut, both have advantages and disadvantages and the electronic is destined to win.

I have a first generation Barnes and Noble Nook and I can put PDF documents on it; it's less expensive than the iPad.

Originally Posted by pmburk

I graduated from an online college that used e-textbooks. They were in PDF format and I was able to use my Dell WinXP laptop and/or my Dell desktop. Can a student today still use a laptop or desktop instead of having to purchase an iPad? My point here is, if you have a laptop with Adobe Reader, why go out and purchase an iPad?

Well you're not going to lug a desktop to class, are you?

For an all-purpose device a laptop is great, but tablets are light, quick and convenient.

Originally Posted by commiecat

Well you're not going to lug a desktop to class, are you?

For an all-purpose device a laptop is great, but tablets are light, quick and convenient.

I didn't have to, I earned my degree from home online.

Originally Posted by pmburk

I didn't have to, I earned my degree from home online.

Well I was talking about students in a general term, not you specifically.

My point here is, if you have a laptop with Adobe Reader, why go out and purchase an iPad?

I can see lots of reasons for a student to buy and use a tablet in lieu of their laptop: they're quicker to start up, lighter, smaller, more quiet when typing, etc. That isn't to say that everyone should do so, but I got the impression that you're questioning why anybody would choose one over a desktop or laptop.

Originally Posted by commiecat

Well I was talking about students in a general term, not you specifically.



I can see lots of reasons for a student to buy and use a tablet in lieu of their laptop: they're quicker to start up, lighter, smaller, more quiet when typing, etc. That isn't to say that everyone should do so, but I got the impression that you're questioning why anybody would choose one over a desktop or laptop.

It would have to depend on the situation. In my case, there was no need for me to get a tablet if they were available at that time I was enrolled in my online college. But going to a campus for class, a tablet would work based on your explanation.

Here's an idea: if everything is going electronic, how are kids supposed to develop good writing skills?

Originally Posted by Bruno

Here's an idea: if everything is going electronic, how are kids supposed to develop good writing skills?

Do you mean penmanship, or writing style and grammar?

Originally Posted by Bruno

Here's an idea: if everything is going electronic, how are kids supposed to develop good writing skills?

I think when the time comes they just won't.
I'm sure at one point people were worried how kids are going to develop good hunting skills, but the lack of those doesn't seem to bother most people anymore.

More recently there was concern about kids learning basic arithmetic. Electronic calculators have been available for many decades now, but still kids are taught how to do long division because it's important not as a skill, but as a developmental tool. Probably the same thing with basic writing, but as far as I can tell calligraphy has been obsolete for decades already with no dramatically ill effect.