Going Big, Going Small: Pedagogical Design of E-Textbooks

• In Event: Innovative Learning Design in an Information and Communications Technology-Rich Environment: The Ongoing Story of Shanghai

Abstract

Objectives: This study focuses on the requirements for the use of e-Textbooks as learning materials in the classrooms and at schools, and thus endeavors to provide and validate a pedagogical-driven methodology for the design and development of e-Textbooks.
Theoretical framework: An e-Textbook combines e-learning and e-publishing technologies. Digital textbook and e-book have been explored, and several advantages have been widely recognized. For instance, tryouts of e-books in education revealed that student learning process would be enhanced, specifically, the creativity, motivation, and learning autonomy of students may be improved; teachers may find the delivery of lessons to their students through technologies embedded in e-books an effective approach. However, research on e-Textbook use in the classrooms is still in its infancy.
Methods: Interviews have been conducted to determine the demands of teachers for e-Textbooks. An experiment is to be carried out with an e-Textbook unit of “Nature” in two classes of 80 students and a same teacher in a primary school in Shanghai. Additionally, thirty four pre-service teachers have been asked to complete the try-outs of e-Textbook editor, which is still under development, and then complete a questionnaire after a one-hour experience of e-Textbook, following the steps in an elaborated presentation.
Data sources: Data already collected include the needs of teachers and questionnaires from pre-service teachers. Data will be collected in September 2013, from the students and the teacher of the school after the teacher’s customized instructional design is performed in classes. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses are performed to take full advantage of the data.
Preliminary findings: The study is still on-going. Thus far, the data of teacher demands of e-Textbook unveil the following key words for their expectations of e-Textbooks: reusable and editable, low operation demand, and fast prototype method.
Significance of the study: The study can provide reference to use e-Textbooks as learning materials in classrooms and schools. The study also aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the capabilities of e-Textbook and e-Textbook editor, for instance, both the individualization and openness of teachers’ instructional design.

Authors

• Xiaoqing Gu, East China Normal University

• Wenbo Zhu, East China Normal University