Online Textbooks in the Developmental

Education Classroom

The 1980s – Students use personal computers to type essays in college.

Guns N’Roses Hard Rock Grunge Band

Apple iie – 128K

“The government’s decision to pursue major publishers on antitrust charges has put the Internet retailer Amazon in a powerful position: the nation’s largest bookseller may now get to decide how much an e-book will cost, and the book world is quaking over the potential consequences.” Published Online New York Times, April 11, 2012Printed New York Times, April 12, 2012

(Click Here for article)

Proposition: In 5 - 7 years, almost all college textbooks will be sold, leased, and used online.

Which way do you think we are headed, and how long will it take to get there?

Two On-Line Textbooks: Ideas About Writing Ideas About Reading

Student Journey Presshttp://studentjourneypress.com

Sarah Peruzzi, teacher, professor, professional copy editor and photographer Mountain Media Magazine

Marge Weir, teacher, tutor, copy editor

Copy Editors & Reviewers

1. Instructor can fit the text with how and what she teaches.

2. Students download one chapter at a time and use the “Find” command to move around the chapter.

3. Instructor can use links to other pages in the text, Websites, and YouTube to provide context, enhancement, and expansion.

4. Features continuous improvement a. Student feedback b. Instructor feedback

Interesting Differences in an Online Text

 

Chapter 3: The Organization of the Essay

Narration is the fiction we invent to persuade ourselves that events are knowable and that life has order and direction.

“Calvin and Hobbes by Sam Watterson

Chapter 13: The Subject and the Verb

“Peanuts” by Charles Schulz

Research Results 1: On average, students took longer to adjust to the on-line textbook, but within a week, 80% of the students were using the on-line textbook just as effectively as a printed copy. About 10% made the adjustment in 2-3 weeks, and about 10% preferred using a printed copy for the semester.

Research Results

Research Results 2: Analysis of test scores and essay evaluations showed no difference in students who used the on-line text compared to a text from a standard publisher. (The analysis was inconclusive because the important variable of in-class instruction could not be controlled for.)

Research Results

Students evaluated the class, using Survey Monkey.Online text Respondents: 74 Printed text Respondents: 23

Research Results

How often did you use the textbook for this class? On-Line Printed More than once a week 70% 39% About once a week 20% 30% Less than once a week 10% 30%

Research Results

Did you buy the printed text for the class from the bookstore? Yes NoTotal: 31% 69%Class 1: 10% 90%Class 2: 41% 59%Class 3: 11% 89%Class 4: 20% 80%Class 5: 15% 85%

Research Results

How would you rate the practice exercises in the on-line textbook for this class?

On-Line PrintedAbout the right level of difficulty 79% 20%Too difficult 16% 60%Too easy 5% 20%

Research Results

How would you rate the textbook for this class compared to the texts in your other classes? On-Line PrintedLike online textbook better 71% 56% About the same 22% 39%Not as well 7% 6%

Research Results

And, to close….

How would you rate this class compared to your other classes?

On-Line PrintedLike this class better 76% 77%Like this class about the same 19% 14%Like this class not as well 5% 9%

Research Results