UnTextbook Online Reading Options

1. Device. What kind of computer or table did you use to do this experiment? (i.e. desktop, laptop, iPad) 

 Desktop

2. Browser. What browser did you use? If you downloaded and read the PDF version, what PDF reader did you use, or did you just read the PDF in your browser?

 I used Google Chrome, and when I downloaded the PDF, it pulled up in Google Drive.

3. Best Option. Did one of the options — Hathi, Internet Archive, Google, PDF — appeal to you more than the others? What makes this one better?

 I think the internet archive and PDF options are your best bets. The format is easy to read and the navigation is simple. Plus, Hathi has to load each page which is obnoxious when you're trying to just continuously read. The other 3 options allow for the entire document to load at the start so you can scroll along as you read without interruption. 

4. Worst Option. Was any one of the three options  — Hathi, Internet Archive, Google, PDF — really undesirable for some reason? If so, what made it undesirable?

 Honestly, I just really cannot get down with the Hathi option. There seems like a lot going on with the page. Like, when you look at the screen on the PDF, all you see is a few navigational necessities and the text you're trying to read. With Hathi, there just seems like a lot of widgets, buttons, and navigational tools that are unneccessary for the short readings we do in this class. They take away from the experience. Plus, when you initially load the story, it loads SUPER magnified and hurts my eyes so I have to minimize it which means it has to reload. 

5. Reading Online. Do you do often read books or other long text documents on your computer? Please give details about what kinds of long texts you read on your computer and what program(s) you use to read them. Do you usually do your reading online or offline?

I have never been a big fan of reading books or long text documents on the computer. Reading that much text on a screen hurts my eyes. Plus, there isn't the action and satisfaction of turning the pages or dog-earring/putting a bookmark in the page when you left off. Also, I am really fidgety so reading on a screen and only being engaged physically when I have to scroll means i'm more susceptible to fidgeting or getting distracted. This brings up another point: when i'm reading a book, that is usually all I am doing or can do because it's a physical action; if i'm reading a book on a computer I can just open up a new tab and go to Tumblr, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. and mess around. Generally I read books in print and if i'm doing research I will often try to print off my sources/articles and read them that way instead of just reading them on the screen (depending on how long they are).

6. Taking Notes Online. Do you have a good method for taking notes when you are reading online in a browser window? For example, I open a plain text file resize my browser window and text file so that they both appear on the screen, and I take notes while I read. What notetaking method do you use for material you are reading in your browser window?

When i'm reading and taking notes online, I just open up a seperate tab and flip between the two. I read for a bit then switch tabs and write my notes. This is one big advantage of reading online: the ability to have multiple tabs open at once. I will sometimes take notes on Blogger or Evernote. Otherwise, I have to open up word if I plan to take notes on the computer instead of on paper.

7. PDF Notetaking. Do you have a good method for taking notes when you are reading a PDF? For example, I prefer to read PDFs using GoodReader on my iPad, and I use the highlighter to mark notes, and then I type them up later on my desktop computer. What notetaking method do you use for PDFs?

I just open up a Word document while i'm reading and flip between the two, or I take notes on paper. 

8. Hard Copies. How often do you print reading materials out as hard copies? What are your reasons for choosing to print out a hard copy? Do you do your printing at home or on campus?

 I often print materials out as hard copies so I can make notes on them, highlight, add page flags, etc. Having a hard copy also means I can take it with me and work on my reading/assignment anywhere regardless of access to WiFi/internet. Also, reading materials as hard copies puts less strain on my eyes and keeps my hands engaged. I print mostly at work/practicum because they have an industrial printer that can print my articles out quickly and efficiently. Otherwise, I will print on campus if the document is long because, again, they have badass printers made for printing large jobs. If the document is short (under 15 pages usually) I will likely print it at home if for some reason I can't print it at work.

9. Other Comments. Do you have any other comments to share...? Please let me know! I'm really curious to learn more about people's reading practices and preferences online!

 I found that I preferred the texts that had cream pages if the background is white. It seemed to make the experience less stressful on my eyes, and therefore I was able to look at it longer. The only problem I have with the PDF is the back background with stark white paper. It can be a little harsh.