Once upon a time, a textbook was a textbook. No gimmicks, no fancy add-ons, just pages of chapters bound together. Somehow, it just isn’t that simple anymore.

In a time when technology is so prevalent, it may be hard to believe that students are up in arms over the incorporation of online learning in their classes. However, the use of online amenities integrated in a classroom setting is proving to be less than beneficial the majority of the time.

More than ever, classes at College of DuPage require the purchase of online access codes in addition to the necessary text. Sounds helpful, right? Well, in theory, they can be. These sites typically correlate with the class readings and offer study materials and homework questions. These aren’t merely online textbooks, but rather access to additional learning to benefit students in the related class. The catch is that while these sites open the doors to a variety of study options, the few numbers of an access code aren’t really worth their expensive price tag.

Access codes can usually cost somewhere between $100 and $150. In addition to the cost of the actual class, the textbook, and any other required material, access codes can add up to a small fortune, but that’s not even the worst of it.

To make matters more frustrating, besides the exorbitant price of an access code, in most classes, the sites’ features are used sparingly at most, at least in our student experience. Two or three assignments may be posted by the instructor, or possibly a few quizzes, but other than that, the access codes often go virtually unused for the entire semester.

After the thrill of bringing technology into and outside of the classroom ends, it’s pretty obvious that it isn’t furthering our learning any better than a classic textbook and a simple lecture presentation. If anything, it’s high price tag brings with it a resentment toward online studying.

While some students who struggle with a course could actually benefit from the extra learning outside of class, the majority of students don’t bother using the sites simply because they have no need for them. Therefore, it would make more sense to make the purchasing of access codes optional, or even get rid of them altogether. This concept would be the best solution to the problem.

In an ideal world, one of the aforementioned options would be implemented. However, there hasn’t been a time in history when a technological advancement was later removed, and in all likelihood, it won’t happen now either. This leaves truly only one option: if access codes are here to stay, students might as well get some use out of them.

We’re not saying that anyone comes to college expecting to drop only a few bucks — it’s a huge lifetime investment. What we are saying is that no one should have to pay more than is absolutely necessary for an already expensive class, especially when the product isn’t benefiting their education.

And so, to professors that require the purchase of access codes: if you’re going make students pay through the nose, at least make it worth their time and money. Utilize the applications available and post information and assignments online. Otherwise, students are paying for nothing but disappointment.