Using Audio Books As A Learning Tool by Kelvin Ho

A traditional print book usually contains text comprised of written characters, scenes and plots or it encompasses instructional data, biographic material or factual documentation.

An audio book transfers the written script to digital format, which is often enhanced by award winning sound tracks and professional dialogue providers.

Traditional printed text has always provided an outlet for entertainment, knowledge acquisition and personal growth. Audio books provide all that and more.

Although audio books (also formerly known as books on tape) are not a new concept, the recent technological advances with digital imagery have made audio books accessible. People with busy lifestyles are tuning in to the many advantages of audio reading modules and are discovering that they can still keep up with literary content while going about the mundane, tedious tasks of everyday life.

Available on cassette tape, CD or in digital format, audio books offer more versatility than traditionally written texts because of their portability, and more recently, their affordability. With audio books, storage is not as cumbersome as with printed versions because the data is preserved digitally and whole volumes can be carried around in a shirt pocket or small purse.

As a teaching tool, audio books are joining mainstream curricular modules because of their ability to shorten the learning gap for students who have traditionally had trouble with interpreting the written word. By providing audio enhanced, sensory tools for learning, many teachers find that, although a great deal of their students can adopt and retain written information, there is a certain segment of the student body who benefit more readily when they can hear, rather than read, instructions, literary works and factual presentations.

Although not suited for all students, especially those who rely heavily on visual or tactile methods of learning, audio books do, nevertheless, provide a more relative learning environment for students who face language, sight or interpretation barriers.

One of the major drawbacks to audio learning, for now anyway, is that not all literary, tomes, instructional information or biographical material required for all curriculums are available in digital format. With the onset and popularity of the Internet, this oversight is being addressed at many levels and more and more information is becoming available every day.

Traditional print media have been slow to embrace digital technology as a learning medium; however some of the more forward thinking publishing companies are beginning to see and adapt to the many advantages of combining or enhancing their publications via both print and audio mediums.

Special needs groups comprised of people with vision impairments and dyslexics, as well as educators and marketing specialists alike, are jumping on the audio book band wagon with alacrity.

By removing prior restrictions for their product and embracing technological advances, publishing companies are realizing that while audio books may never replace the printed word, they do have a valuable and acceptable place in our modern day society.

Knowledge is power. Regardless of whether it is attained by sitting before a crackling fire perusing the latest best seller in print or whether the same information is obtained while straddling a stationary bike, consumers will always have a thirst to learn. Savvy publishing companies who show a willingness to diversify by offering both mediums on equal footing can not only increase their client base, they will also strengthen their bottom line

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