TITLE:
Scoping the Possibilities: Student Preferences towards Open Textbooks Adoption for E-Learning
AUTHORS:
Deepak Prasad, Tsuyoshi Usagawa
KEYWORDS:
Open Textbook, Digital Textbook, Student Preferences, Adoption, E-Learning, The University of the South Pacific
JOURNAL NAME:
Creative Education,
Vol.5 No.24,
December
30,
2014
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.