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A Research-based Argumentative Essay

Implementing Electronic Textbooks to all Schools, Universities and Institutions Worldwide

Research Question: Should all Schools, Universities and Institutions worldwide switch to
electronic textbooks?

Submitted to:
Mr. Dante Dumdum
INSTRUCTOR

Date:
December 2, 2019
 Because of the advancing technologies we have, an alternative in utilizing papers for an
environmental or eco-friendly, uncostly, hassle-free benefits, electronic textbooks should be
implemented in all schools, universities and institutions.

Living in a globally technologically advanced era, the ideology of doing things virtually
anywhere on any device like cellular phones is the new need of every individual.
Revolutionizing, the traditional paper-based documents, photocopies, archives, and other files
dating a specific time grew inefficient and risky (Chao, 2015).

According to Wahl (2018), an electronic textbook is a non-editable book converted to

digital format for display on a computer screen, digital screen or any handheld device. The use
of electronic textbooks would improve efficiency and productivity not just in any workplace but
also among students by as much as 70% based on a study conducted entitled “Digital
Transformation: Why go Paperless” because it is infinitely faster than the manual one, found by
just at the click of a button (Murphy, n.d.). The United States of America (USA) with the use of
electronic books (ebook) were able to decrease their national budget by up to $1.1 billion in the
year 2017 than utilizing hard copies of printed books as their main baseline materials, thereby
giving the students cheap, portable, hassle-free copies of their lecture (Mcmaken, 2019). The
average worldwide paper consumption is 48kg. per person, the United States of America (USA)
approximately cuts more than 68 million trees each year to produce papers, and produce over 2
billion books (So, 2016). With the current technology and its innovation for quicker accesses on
electronic books, the 4 million tons of office paper, and school papers are discarded in much
decreasing number if only the paperless propaganda and utilizing ebooks as the alternative would
be legalized in every schools, universities, and institutions in the Philippines (Huxley, 2016).

The widespread use of paper in all institutions created dismaying reasons for the
persistence of paper in an electronic environment because of its unique attributes allowing it to
fill gaps in information timeliness, availability, and reliability in pursuit of improved quality of
life (Dykstra, 2009). According to Help Systems (2017), electronic documents such as electronic
textbooks in mobile phones would reach and route people right away without manual
intervention. They are much easier to file and find because they can be indexed using keys on

what document type or its title would be. Full-text searching makes it simple and quicker to find
in also a high-resolution screen rather than black-printed papers that are more costly and

sensitive.

Daunting to make a change in school would make and change impacts on every aspect of
school life by going paperless in finding benefits that outweighs this challenges. Scanning and
reading through large textbooks or making paperwork is one of the biggest drains on time for
both teachers and students, although papers have a place in our hybrid future. The advancement
of technology can save hours using portable electronic textbooks to give feedback to a much
more efficient environment through easy-scrolling test, proper shareability, a global text search
for your personal library, synchronization, and etc. because there is no need to tackle manual
filing, various printing tasks and searching for the right paragraph by working on it word for
word (Harkaway, 2014). Electronic books are most likely to attract new users to libraries and
help people with their specific needs such as those who are physically disabled people because it
is becoming an essential component of most universities, and institutions globally.

In recent years, increasing number of students and teachers are using electronic tools for
studying as their reference lists because it is much more convenient and effective for them to
fulfill their course outline and coursework requirements by reading and writing online by giving
them access to their specific databases and content (Chen, et. al.,n.d). The use of electronic
textooks (ebook) offers the users (students, faculty, staff, etc.) all the advantages including being
able to search and find particular information and being able to manipulate the content replacing
traditional reserved materials with it to offer perfect opportunity and transform low use items
into tools for making better use of student collections and funds.

Regardless of how the electronic book revolution plays out, the fundamental interdepend
relationship between manual printed-texts and text-bearing devices will not change, but the
nature of that relationship almost certainly will, change. Printed books what makes up our history
but the use of electronic books will certainly enhance access to a of widespread users made
available anytime and made use of and carried anywhere.

Overall, considering what comes more beneficial in an advanced technological era it can
be said that electronic books has stabilized its place as a good way to access printed words
alongside its printed counterparts as digital type for the future publications in every institution
made for every students and faculties.
Reference:
Chao, C. (2015). Implementing a Paperless System for Small and Medium-Sized
Business(SMBs). Retrieved from https://scholarsbank. uoregon.edu/xmlui/bitstream
/handle/Chao2015.pdf Published at University of Oregon on December 2015

Chen, Y.L. et.al., (n.d). Exploratory Research: The Effects of Electronic Books on College
Students. Retrieved from https://scholarsarchive.jwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cg Published
at MBA Student Scholarship

Dykstra, R. et.al., (2009). Persistent Paper: The Myth of “Going Paperless”. Retrieved from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2815440/#!po=1.25000 on 14th of
November 2009

Harkaway, N. (2014). Paper vs. Digital Reading is an Exhausted Debate. Retrieved from
https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/mar/31/paper-vs-digital-reading-
debate-ebooks-tim-waterstone Published at The Guardian on 31st of March 2014

Help Systems. (2017). The Top Ten Reasons to Go Paperless. Retrieved from
https://www.helpsystems.com/resources/articles/top-ten-reasons-go-paperless on 5th of
January 2017

Mcmaken, L. (2019). E-Books vs. Print Books: What's the Difference?. Retrieved from
https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0812/e-books-vs.-print-books.aspx
Published at Investopedia on 28th of July 2019

So, R.C. (2016). Dead trees: How much are we consuming?. Retrieved from
https://www.manilatimes.net/2016/02/22/business/columnists-business/dead-trees-how-
much-are-we-consuming/246383/246383/ Published at The Manila Times on 22nd of
February 2016
Wahl, J. (2018). What is an eBook?.Understanding Why They Work and How to Make Your
Own. Retrieved from https://learn.g2.com/what-is-an-ebook Published at G on 19th of
July 2018