Inquiry Question

How Does Learning Vary Between

Digital and Codex Materials and

Which Results in a Better Outcome?

Digital.

Dig-i-tal: (adj.) characterized by electronic and especially

computerized technology. (Merriam-Webster)

Examples include: Computer, smart phone, tablet, smart

reader, mp3 players, and a lot more.

Prior to any research I believe that digital learning is

something that will aid in the development of education and

is more advantageous than codex.

Codex.

Co-dex: (noun) a manuscript book especially of

Scripture, classics, or ancient annals. (Merriam-

Webster)

Examples include: book, textbook, magazine,

reference book, newspaper, letter, journal,

article, and endless others.

My hypothesis about the codex is that codex is not

restricted to, but mostly advantageous primarily

because it may be less distracting, but other than

that, digital can do everything that written texts

can.

Observations.

I have recently observed at the library that students

who study at a desk with just a book, paper, and

pencil are more bound to their seat and more

focused on the topic than someone who has the

ability to browse the web, and talk to friends on chat.

I have noted that students who rely on technology to

learn have more sources than the plain old textbook,

and may understand the concepts more easily due

to another source explaining it better.

More Observations.

Another extremely helpful observation that I have

made is that students tend to be more organized

when taking digital notes because it is quicker to

correct and edit than paper.

If used correctly, many eReaders will provide you

with a definition of a word just by tapping on it, this is

something I found out while conducting research

that really made me feel that technology was

extremely more resourceful than codex.

Online Courses.

Something that is very advantageous about technology is the fact that it enables online courses to be taken for mostly any class offered. The great part about this is that these classes are flexible to students learning techniques, as well as time. The concept of an online class is a great one, but requires minimum codex materials. Most materials are provided through a website and all the work is turned in digitally. The only disadvantages found with this is the clarity of the assignments and the ability to communicate with the instructor with full ease. (Basham).

Digital Advantages.

Reed College constructed a one semester testing on

how the iPad would work for them and their school.

The most amazing part of their testing was the

realization that students who are disabled such as

mute, or deaf, and many other things could ease

more into learning and be able to express

themselves more and get involved more. (Ipads in

School).

Digital Advantages.

Many people predict that schools that use

technology, and shift to mobile-technology will be

better off than old school techniques to learn. (Kelly).

It is also predicted that this would be the best way to

keep up with the ever so changing technology is to

use it in schools so that students will automatically

learn and not have to update their technology

knowledge ever so often. (Raab).

Digital Advantages.

Mobile technology can be used as “clickers” to make

sure that students are attending class as well as

understanding materials. (Selwyn).

Another great fact about digital learning is that it has

the ability to let students as well as parents and

teachers communicate at more ease. Certain

business colleges use these technological devices

to keep their group in touch for important

information.

Digital Disadvantages.

As computers, there is no guarantee that technology might not lose your files, or the battery die on you, therefor it is important to take precautions such as having an extra charger or battery and backing up all your files.

Another disadvantage of digital learning is the fact that students may get side tracked as well as share work more easily leading them to put less effort into their own work.

Digital devices might be too expensive to certain students, or people in general.

Digital Disadvantages.

Digital mediums might not have the same “feel” as a

text book or a book as describe by some of my

classmates when asked why they prefer books over

e-books.

Codex Advantages.

Paper is reliable in that unless you lose it, there is no

way it will “crash” or “die”.

Young children and elders may adapt more to paper

books than using technical or digital devices.

Some people learn better when learning from a hard

copy rather than a digital copy.

Codex Disadvantages.

Codex is less resourceful and is limited to certain

information without extensive research.

Codex cannot be altered as quickly and more

efficiently than digital.

For example, if you have written a paper, you might

have to rewrite the entire paper just to fix a

sentence, but if it is typed, you just have to go

change it in a saved file.

Case Study.

I conducted a case study since the beginning of the

Spring 2011 semester to see if the two types of

learning drastically differed. In order to carry on the

experiment I completely used digital materials in one

class, and completely written in the other class.

Digital: Physics 1101 (Physics I)

Codex: Math 1242 (Calculus II)

Case Study.

In calculus where I used my notebook and pencil to

take notes and study, I found that over the course of

over half a semester, I could easily go back to

whatever notes it was I was looking for, but there

were some days of lectures, in which I had

misplaced the notes. I also found that while I was

doing problems, I had outside room to workout the

problems, which was good but did not result in a

very organized process.

Case Study.

In physics, where I used my Apple iPad to take

notes, I found that it was very easy to access all my

notes because everything was saved in order by

date in the same assigned folder. Also, I found that

while taking notes, I had more resources, such as

the internet right at my hands to look up unclear

concepts or definitions. The disadvantages I found

were that my iPad might die sooner than the end of

class, and that I might find myself tempted to browse

the web while taking notes.

Case Study.

Conclusively, I discovered that even though I was

more distracted by what technology has to offer, it

was more organized and reliable than written notes.

Works Cited

Basham, James D., Helen Meyer, and Ernest Perry. "The Design and Application of

the Digital Backpack." Journal of Research on Technology in Education 42.4

(2010): 339. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. 21 Feb. 2011.

Ipads in School. Wordpress. 2010. Web. April 4, 2011

Kelly, Frank S, Ted D. E. McCain, and Ian Jukes. Teaching the Digital Generation:

No More Cookie-Cutter High Schools. Thousand Oaks, Calif:

Corwin Press, 2009. Print.

Merriam-Webster. 2011. Web. April 4, 2011.

Raab, Ralph. "Books and Literacy in the Digital Age." American Libraries 41.8

(2010): 34. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. 21 Feb. 2011.

Selwyn, Neil. Schools and Schooling in the Digital Age: A Critical Analysis. London:

Routledge, 2011. Print.