Updating websites: Why it can be problematic.

Many websites are constantly updating their websites, sometimes on a month-to-month basis if you are Facebook. These updates can be beneficial if making it more user-friendly or adding new details, but this can become problematic for many other people, especially companies and universities that rely upon these websites. I, unfortunately, ran into this problem in my Blogging and Social Networking class. The University of Toledo carried a printed textbook on the class and how to use different websites such as Blogger, Delicious, and Flickr. Hundreds of students bought the book so that the classwork would go smoother and, especially for me, it is a guide since my class is online. The book is pretty much my "in-class" activities, lectures, and class times; the time I would spend in class is now transformed to the time I spend learning, studying, and applying the book. The book is very helpful on the basics, but the trouble I ran into is that the pictures and step-by-step processes shown in the book for the mandatory activities were different from the websites that have been updated and changed. This creates problems for several classes, not just my own, who are trying to learn and complete the homework on time. This is very unfortunate since myself and many others had to purchase the book, and since the website updates, the book is already updated. However, this is inevitable. Online programs and websites are constantly updating, and for the better, to keep information current. A solution to this problem would be for universities to sell and e-book that they are able to update, and in return, students would be able to install the updated book as changes are made. Of course, this textbook may cost a little more, but the benefits definately outweigh the cost and the hours spent in pointless frustration.