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This comprehensive analysis by Tom Davy explores the evolving landscape of e-textbooks, addressing key opportunities, innovations, and dilemmas faced by educators and students alike. It discusses the pedagogical features of effective teaching aids and the importance of aligning learning objectives with course requirements. The text contrasts traditional textbooks with digital alternatives, examining factors such as cost, accessibility, and learner engagement. With insights on market dynamics and teaching philosophies, this synthesis guides educators in harnessing technology to enhance the learning experience.
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E-textbooks Opportunities, innovations, distractions and dilemmas Tom Davy Thomson Learning
What is a textbook? A synthesis of current knowledge Teaching aid and learning resource Learning objectives Matches course requirements Includes supplements Case studies Follows a logical sequence Pedagogical features
Teaching Philosophies • A bi-product of research • Learning shouldn’t be fun • Students shouldn’t be spoon-fed • Discovery not prescription • Learner-centred Vs teacher-led
Student expectations • Get me through the course • Grab my attention • Highly visual • Better than Google • The bits I need when I need them • Built-in links for further research
Publisher Objectives • Win market share • Build a superior product • Better syllabus match • Authoritative author • Latest thinking • New material • Makes course delivery easier • Value-adding supplements
Diminishing returns • More returns, less ROI • Reducing sell-through • New edition cycles • Second-hand sales • “Web resources are free”
US Vs ROW price differentials Kotler, Armstrong Principles of Marketing US Edition $160 = £80.00 UK Edition £42.99
US Edition UK Edition $141.98 = £70 £39.89
Economics of textbook publishing • High initial investment • Supplements • High Price • In the US • If discretionary purchase for students • Used books, leakage, buying around, piracy • Inefficient supply chain • Multiple intermediaries • High wastage • “Unsuccessful” first editions • Too much content • Returns
Corporate exodus from education “Education slow to adopt digital solutions”
Textbook Vs Digital Textbook • Portable • Tactile • No equipment required • Text better on paper • Organising framework • Linear • Single medium • Too much or too little • Single learning style Digital • I-pods, mobile phones • I-pods, mobile phones • Ubiquitous items • E-paper, print on demand • Learner journeys • Interactive • Multiple media • As much as you need • Individual learning styles
Context Faculty • Tutor contact hours are reducing (www.williseemytutor.com) • From sage on the stage to guide on the side Students • Access to huge amount of content • Students will accept “good enough” • Students have become Googleized
Is there a better way? What would we invent today if the textbook did not exist?
Book Centric Case Studies Companion Website Learning Assessments
Objective Centric Learning Objective Learning Assessments
Dilemmas • Print pays our salaries • The bleeding edge is a painful place • Selling direct to students • Digital rights management
Distractions • E-books • Bookshops • Digitalist zealots
Innovations • The demise of content silos • Customised content • User created and sharing
Opportunities • University management: offer your customers a more compelling learning experience • Go digital • Librarians: market your services more effectively • Move into the campus bookshop space • Publishers • Look beyond the textbook • Start thinking objectives and digital learning objects