Today, we can make almost anything happen with our mobile devices and advanced gadgets. If you visit your designated app store, you can find an application for everything, ranging from basic call/texting apps to sophisticated office management tools.
Moreover, you can find infinite options in the departments of gaming and entertainment as well. Honestly speaking, any activity or function that is incorporated into a digital application becomes a lot more accessible.
As long as you have a charged smartphone and Wi-Fi, you can keep up with the world and get stuff done.
Following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, digital technology has further substantiated its dominance. Remote learning and working have become mainstream, allowing people to move on with their lives without exposing themselves to a high-risk environment.
Virtual meetings with a coworker, estate planning lawyer, or physician are viable and productive. The government of every country prioritizes the youth, which is why schools and universities were kept closed for their safety.
Students are able to take classes and clear exams, thanks to the existence of dynamic mobile applications. Online courses and distance learning have been around for quite some time, but now they have gained universal recognition.
Widespread e-learning softwares has received mixed reviews. Several have found it a positively convenient method of educating an audience, while others have called it ineffective and lackluster.
Many students have asserted that they can only thrive in a strict classroom environment, where the teacher is physically present before them. On the contrary, a lot of pupils have claimed that learning through digital applications saves a lot of time, money, and hassle.
To be fair, both sides have their pros and cons; although, apps that can replace textbooks are a win for everyone.
The Benefits of Textbook Apps
Digital apps are the greener choice as opposed to physical textbooks. Think of all the trees that can be saved if all the school textbooks are available in the form of an application you can download on your smartphone or tablet.
Moreover, students do not need to carry heavy books around campus all the time or risk losing them. Apps are ideal for those who are forgetful or careless about safekeeping their belongings.
If you lose your mobile device or its software gets corrupted, you can always download an app again and restore progress from the digital cloud.
Conventional books are expensive, given the cost of printing and distributing. An app can be provided for free or a small price, yet it can produce a higher ROI (return of investment).
The content of a textbook becomes affordable for the consumer, and the owner can earn daily profits by placing ads.
Not to mention, apps are never out of stock because they can be made permanently available on a worldwide platform; even releasing a new edition would be quite convenient, and everyone would be able to download the latest version.
Paper textbooks are static and two-dimensional at best; hence, it is not surprising that students get bored or tired by merely looking at them.
Digital apps can be designed in a way, which makes the context of a book interactive and engaging. Sound, motion, colorful illustration, and creativity are likely to grab the attention of a wider audience.
Students get eager and learn faster when you disguise knowledge as a game. Apps are the perfect way to combine fun and learning, assuming that you can convert study time into playtime without any negative repercussions.
Conclusion
Nothing is perfect, so it is safe to say that replacing textbooks with apps may have a few disadvantages as well. First of all, several young students cannot be trusted to take care of a mobile device.
Secondly, using an app rather than a book to study can be distracting. Students can easily be sidetracked by other apps on their phone, or experience greater fatigue by increased screen time.
Many people prefer paper textbooks for obvious reasons; it is indeed a matter of habit and personal satisfaction. Everybody has different preferences, thus the solution is to be given a choice. Individuals should be allowed to get a textbook, app, or both to facilitate their needs.
