Book or digital

Question

I will be asking the IET but just curious if anyone knows what sort of money a digital subscription
to BS7671 would be for a college with around 180 electrical students.

Would also be interested in any thoughts on book V digital

Thank you

Chris Pearson · Accepted Answer

JohnE said: Would also be interested in any thoughts on book V digital 
 You can take your book anywhere on the face of this Earth. 
 As opposed to using the paper index, the digital version can be searched more easily (I assume - I have not got a digital subscription). 
 The open book measures 420 mm x 297 mm, i.e. 2 x A4. That is much bigger than my 'phone, so I can see more. In favour of paper is the amount that I can see in front of me; but in favour of digital, I can put my 'phone in a shirt pocket. 
 Horses for courses - you choose.

Sparkingchip · Answer

When I was at college, starting as an apprentice and going on through life, I always bought my own text and reference books, along with tools. Though some books were available on loan from the college library. 
 I would definitely say books for learning, something you can hold and get familiar with, loose book marks rather than tabs and minimal highlighting, too many highlights don&rsquo;t make it easier to find things and stop you using your own book in the exams.

lyledunn · Answer

JohnE said: Would also be interested in any thoughts on book V digital 
 Ask any one of your 180 students a technical question about electrical installations and I bet the majority will dive straight to their phone! Forcing youngsters to refer to BS7671 in physical book form is like forcing catering students to cook on an open fire! It is only the old dusty folk who hold sway over learning and assessment for electrical installation courses that continue to insist on using physical books. They claim the courses should be candidate led, quite the contrary, continuing to insist on books better suits the commercial models of the accrediting bodies. 
 The digital version is currently first class, well worth investing for teaching! I have a feeling, however, even it will be usurped by AI.

Chris Pearson · Answer

lyledunn said: I bet the majority will dive straight to their phone 
 "Phone" is a bit of a misnomer. First and foremost is a wee computer, with a camera second. The ability to make telephone calls is merely incidental.

gkenyon · Answer

JohnE said: I will be asking the IET 
 That's the best bet to answer your query. 
 Chris Pearson said: As opposed to using the paper index, the digital version can be searched more easily (I assume - I have not got a digital subscription). 
 Yes, it can be searched. The search is relatively basic vs Acrobat (and other PDF viewer) advanced search, and, I will be honest, this can be problematic, as you can't search for exact phrases (it gives an answer for each word in the search term, even if bounded by parenthesis, quotation marks, or hyphens are used ... for example, a search for exposed-conductive-parts (whether or not bounded by single or double quotes) yields ALL search results combined, for 'exposed', 'conductive', 'parts', and, if there were any additional results, it would also include, 'conductive-parts', 'extraneous-conductive' and 'exposed-conductive'.

Sparkingchip · Answer

New orange regs book and the scribbled notes have already started to be added. 
 As Confucius said &ldquo; The faintest ink is more powerful than the strongest memory.&rdquo;

Book or digital

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