Abstract
Many universities have begun implementing e-Learning systems due to their low cost. However, publishers of expensive textbooks stand in the way of e-Learning’s ability to provide a cost-effective educational delivery model. While many universities aim to overcome this opposition and replace traditional publishers’ textbooks with free open textbooks, such plans cannot be executed successfully unless students are open to their use. As such, a study into students’ preferences towards open textbook adoption is vital to provide clear indication as to their opinions regarding open textbook use. Thus, this study conducted a study of University of the South Pacific (USP) students’ preferences towards open textbook adoption for e-Learning using a survey administered during Semester 2, 2013 which generated 1077 responses. Areas examined include: Impacts of textbook costs on students’ academic careers; preferences towards open textbook adoption; perceived barriers to and motivations for adoption of open textbooks; and preferred digital features and reading devices. Results show that textbook prices adversely impact students. Furthermore, a high level of acceptance towards the adoption of open textbooks was found. The study revealed that the preference for reading printed material was the highest rated barrier to open textbook adoption, while the free availability of open textbooks was rated the greatest motivator. Study findings are being used to inform efforts to develop open textbooks at the USP and may assist other universities seeking to start similar projects.
Highlights
E-learning is being adopted by many universities throughout the world as a cost-effective educational delivery model for expanding and widening access to higher education for all
The University of the South Pacific (USP), a dual-mode regional university co-owned by 12 Pacific island countries (Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu) is one such university, due to its unique mission: To deliver cost-effective quality education online to students living in the remote Pacific islands spread across 33 million square kilometers of ocean more than three times the size of Europe
The three root causes for the current slow adoption of digital textbooks are: Greater preferences for reading printed textbooks over digital ones; incompatibility with students preferred reading device(s); and incongruence of digital textbook features with students’ expectations. These findings indicate that successful adoption of digital textbooks is primarily dependent on student preferences
Summary
E-learning is being adopted by many universities throughout the world as a cost-effective educational delivery model for expanding and widening access to higher education for all. The University of the South Pacific (USP), a dual-mode regional university co-owned by 12 Pacific island countries (Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu) is one such university, due to its unique mission: To deliver cost-effective quality education online to students living in the remote Pacific islands spread across 33 million square kilometers of ocean more than three times the size of Europe. The constant rise in the price of publisher textbooks poses a major hurdle in the university’s ambition to provide cost-effective tertiary education to students studying in the most remote places in the world. Numerous studies have found that students who do not have their own textbook copy frequently fall behind, compromising their learning outcomes and increasing their probability of failing their course (Allen, 2011; Graydon et al, 2011; Morris-Babb & Henderson, 2012; Senack, 2014)
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