Electronic-textbooks.pdf (158.13 kB)
Can electronic textbooks help children to learn?
journal contribution
posted on 2008-09-15, 15:28 authored by Sally MaynardSally Maynard, Emily CheynePurpose – This paper investigates the potential electronic textbooks (e-textbooks) have to augment
the learning and education of children.
Design/methodology/approach – The study consisted of a total of 60 pupils, split into five groups
of 12 participants (six boys and six girls). Each of the five groups were in turn split into two
sub-groups of six (three boys and three girls): one sub-group used the printed textbook, while the other
used a CD-ROM on a laptop computer. The pupils completed a group test and an individual multiple
choice test on information found in the textbooks.
Findings – The study showed that the e-textbook was widely accepted by the participants, and
motivated group participation. Those using the e-textbook achieved significantly higher test results on
average in the group test. Higher (but not significant) average results were achieved by e-textbook
users in the individual test.
Research limitations/implications – An acknowledged limitation of the study is that the
textbooks used for the study were not identical in content. They were equivalent according to subject
and recommended age range, but did not contain specifically the same information. Further studies
would benefit from making use of an electronic version which is identical, or more similar, to a printed
textbook. It would also be worthwhile to investigate the effects of long-term use once the novelty value
of the electronic book has subsided.
Originality/value – The paper aims to fill the gap in the original literature on the subject of how
children relate to and learn from electronic textbooks. The research is of particular interest to teachers,
librarians and parents.
History
School
- Science
Department
- Information Science
Citation
MAYNARD, S. and CHEYNE, E., 2005. Can electronic textbooks help children to learn? The Electronic Library, 23 (1), pp. 103-115Publisher
© Emerald Group Publishing LimitedVersion
- AM (Accepted Manuscript)
Publication date
2005Notes
This article was published in the journal, The Electronic Library [© Emerald Group Publishing Limited] The definitive version is available at: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/0264-0473.htmISSN
0264-0473Language
- en