CUNY Grant for An eBook Experiment: Historical Introduction

to American Government(POLSC 110W)

Ann Cohen, Jennifer Hopper, Lina Newton, and Charles Tien

Political Science, Hunter College, CUNY

What we did• Grant requirement: eBook only course• Summer 2010 meetings with three publishers:– CQ Press, Norton, McGraw Hill

• Three different class sizes:– Jumbo (270 students) with three TAs– Triple (90 students) with one grader– Standard (35 students)

• Textbook selection process with three instructors focused on content.

• Student online survey at beginning and end of semester

The eBook

• Experiment for publisher as well as for faculty.• Textbook with instructor-created reader.• Streaming content, not downloadable.• Textbook license expired after 6 months.• One printing allowed.• Priced ~ $50.

Did students purchase the eBook?

• Jumbo course: 178/199 (89%)– Of the 178 who purchased the eBook, 45% did so

by the 2nd day of classes.• Triple section: 79/88 (90%)– Of the 79 who purchased eBooks, 47% did so by

the 2nd day of classes.• Standard section: 45/54 (83%) (Includes Baruch class)

– Of the 45 who purchased eBooks, 73% did so by Labor Day.

Was it easy to buy? Did students have computers & internet access?

• Students found it relatively easy to purchase the book.

• Students have access to computers (laptops, esp.) and the internet (at home).

• Students are resistant to, and not familiar or comfortable with eBooks.

• Results from start of the semester

Was purchasing the e-book very easy, somewhat easy, somewhat difficult, very difficult or neither easy nor difficult?

Answer OptionsRespons

e Percent

Response

CountVery easy 50.0% 30Somewhat easy 38.3% 23Somewhat difficult 8.3% 5Very difficult 1.7% 1Neither easy nor difficult

1.7% 1

answered question 60skipped question 0

Compared to buying regular textbooks, would you say that buying the e-book was much easier, somewhat easier, somewhat harder, much harder, or neither easier nor harder?

Answer OptionsRespons

e Percent

Response

Countmuch easier 21.7% 13somewhat easier 30.0% 18somewhat harder 15.0% 9much harder 10.0% 6neither easier nor harder

23.3% 14

answered question 60skipped question 0

Please tell us where you have access to the internet. Check all that apply.

Answer OptionsRespons

e Percent

Response Count

Home 96.7% 58

Hunter College 76.7% 46

Work 8.3% 5

Cell phone 30.0% 18

Other (please specify) 3

answered question 60

skipped question 0

Please tell us which of the following devices are you planning on using to read your e-book? Check all that apply.

Answer OptionsRespons

e Percent

Response Count

Desktop computer 43.3% 26Laptop computer 81.7% 49IPad, Kindle, or some other electronic reader

8.3% 5

Cell phone 3.3% 2Other (please specify) 2

answered question 60skipped question 0

Compared to purchasing a regular textbook, were you more likely or less likely to purchase the e-book?

Answer OptionsResponse Percent

Response Count

More likely 21.7% 13

Less Likely 78.3% 47

answered question 60

skipped question 0

How many of your other courses at Hunter College have used e-books?

Answer OptionsResponse Percent

Response Count

One or two 23.3% 14

Zero 76.7% 46

answered question 60

skipped question 0

Did the students do the readings?

• Students reported being less likely to do the readings on an eBook.

• Students reported eBooks being less convenient.

• Results from survey at end of semester.

Were you much more likely, somewhat more likely, neither more nor less likely, somewhat less likely, much less likely to do your course readings with the e-book compared to a regular textbook?

Answer OptionsRespons

e Percent

Response Count

More likely 0.0% 0Somewhat more likely 5.4% 2Neither more nor less likely

24.3% 9

Somewhat less likely 35.1% 13Much less likely 35.1% 13

answered question 37skipped question 0

Was the e-book much more convenient, somewhat more convenient, neither more nor less convenient, somewhat less convenient, or much less convenient than a regular textbook?

Answer OptionsRespon

se Percent

Response Count

Much more convenient 2.7% 1Somewhat more convenient

18.9% 7

Neither more nor less convenient

16.2% 6

Somewhat less convenient

21.6% 8

Much less convenient 40.5% 15answered question 37

skipped question 0

Likes and Dislikes

• Major dislikes:– Automatic log-off after period of inactivity– Not downloadable (didn’t own book after paying)– Limited to one printout– Reading on the screen

• Major likes:– Search function– Lower cost

eBooks & Learning Goals

• Content is limited. Good alternative to textbook and reader, but not better than coursepaks.

• Not convenient enough to outweigh cost savings.

• Didn’t make it more likely that students would do the readings.

Survey Summary

• Students have hardware and access.• Students are more comfortable with hard

copy books.• eBook must be downloadable, printable, and

produce significant savings for students.• Students are not more likely to do the

readings.

Factors Increasing Student Utilization

• Further cost reductions• Better coverage of material required in the

course (reducing added material through e-reserve or other formats)

• Better transfer among electronic formats– Kindle– I-pad

• Better adaptability to student study styles

Response to Faculty Concerns

• E-books might gain wider faculty utilization if:– Faculty were able to insert their own materials

(not copyrighted), as coursepaks permit– There were cooperative agreements among

publishers permitting broader choices of materials bundled in e-books

– There were better technical supports, saving faculty time responding to e-mails

– Students were more enthusiastic and engaged with course materials in the electronic format.

Thank you!