The document summarizes a student's case study comparing digital and codex (paper-based) learning materials. The student took notes and studied for physics using an iPad digitally, and for calculus using paper notes. While the digital materials provided more resources and organization, the student found themself more distracted by other features of the device. Ultimately, the student concluded digital materials provided more organization and reliability than handwritten notes, though came with a risk of greater distraction.

1. The Digital Age vs. The Classic Codex By: Shree Ray English 1103 Spring 2011

2. Inquiry Question How Does Learning Vary Between Digital and Codex Materials and Which Results in a Better Outcome?

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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).

8. 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).

9. 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).

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. CaseStudy. 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)

16. CaseStudy. 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.

17. CaseStudy. 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.

18. CaseStudy. 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.

19. 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: NoMore 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.