我的letter to the editor 今天刊於南華早報 Embracing technology for learning is part of life in modern society As an English teacher, I appreciated the letter from the five students who wrote about e-textbooks (“E-textbooks will distract students”, June 23). While I agree that buying digital devices for the use of e-textbooks may become a burden for disadvantaged students, I do not think they bring more disadvantages than advantages. They help students learn most effectively and prepare them for future studies and careers. Your correspondents claimed that as e-textbooks provide up-to-date information quickly, it is overwhelming to sift through. However, it is an important skill for students to select what to read and not to read to complete a task. If they are equipped with such a skill, they can get the information they need with a click or two in the e-textbook. By contrast, if they are using traditional textbooks, they have to type the keywords of a topic when searching for information about it on the internet. Even if the addresses of the websites are provided in the book, students must type the addresses in the browser. It is more time-consuming. Therefore, e-textbooks make learning, especially research, much more convenient than using traditional ones. Another argument against the use of e-textbooks put forward by your correspondents is that it is difficult for secondary students to do their homework online due to its greater amount and increased complexity. However, it is worth noting that when students study in university, they will always be required to submit coursework on the computer. They may also be asked to participate in activities on e-learning platforms. When they start working, their tasks will become even more complicated. Using e-textbooks to learn in secondary schools can familiarise them with the use of information technology for different purposes, which is required at the tertiary level and at work. In a modern society like Hong Kong, the use of information technology is inevitable in different aspects of our life and education is no exception. As the use of e-textbooks is in the early stages, it may still take time for both teachers and students to adapt to it and for teachers to work out ways to best integrate it into learning and teaching. With the effort of students and teachers, the pitfalls of the use of e-textbooks can be minimised and great benefits can be reaped with learning and teaching becoming more effective and interactive and students becoming more proficient in the use of information technology. Billy Yau, Shek Kip Mei
Posted on: Sun, 30 Jun 2013 20:37:05 +0000
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