Cognitive Views of Learning: Electronic Textbooks

There are many shortcomings and benefits to electronic text books but their benefits largely depend on their usability. If they are user friendly and easy to navigate it is more engaging for students and will encourage them to rely on it as a part of their learning, studying and referencing routine.

The layout of the book as far as page numbers and diagrams should mimic the actual hard cover book. This is increasingly important if an in class hard cover version is used. Also when pages are assigned students will be on the same page as any students who are unable to use an electronic text book.

Scrolling can often be difficult so it would be easier if students can click by arrow from one page to the next, or simply type in the pages of interest. Images should be easy to expand so that students can take full advantage of having them in electronic form. It would be helpful to have a page when the book opens to direct student to different areas of the text such as, glossary, chapter index etc. Additional resources such as virtual field trips should be easy to associate with chapters, and linked with in the appropriate chapter and section so students can reinforce what was learned. If they are linked with the chapters, or placed in the beginning of the chapter students are saved the trouble of correlating them with the proper chapter. There can be links to useful resources outside of the text book to provide students with a multitude of perspectives. Animations can also be added when appropriate. Science specific words that are present in the glossary should be in bold and can be linked for easy access with the definition. Students often just skip these words without taking the time to look them up and this would be a helpful addition.

One of the major problems with linking to outside sits such as NOAA for oceanographic information is that the sites are often changed which would make the links inactive and hence limit the function of the text book.

There are some shortcomings associated with electronic text books even if well layered and designed. Some texts rely on internet connectivity to access online resources and in many cases the textbook itself. Some students who either don’t have computers or have computers with dated software may have limited access or become frustrated when the software doesn’t work properly. While these are limiting factors, compared to the possibilities electronic texts are a wonderful addition to any classroom.