I, too, use an E-book, but one with a twist. AtomicDog Publishing ( http://www.AtomicDog.com ) has a few psychology textbooks ( http://www.atomicdogpublishing.com/DisciplineBooks.asp?Session=672CF635-93E0-4C46-B165-DAA2B44F1154&DisciplineID=101 ). AtomicDog offers them as online-only or as a print version with online access. I use the Psychology: A Journey of Discovery, 2e, Franzoi textbook for Intro. The online version currently costs $34.95, while the print version costs $49.95 (with online access).
I require the online version, for several reasons. First, it comes with online quizzing (and other study guide kinds of material) and I require that my students do the quizzes. I can add quizzes myself or modify existing quizzes at any time. Second, I can write and add anything I want to the online version. I can even control where in the textbook it appears. While I have not had the time to do much of that yet, I have big plans for the future. Third, although most of my students are not quite bright enough to figure it out by themselves, they can cut and paste a summary version of the chapters -- sort of a super highlighted version of the old technique. Pasted into their word processor, they can re-word existing material, add material, add color, italicize, etc., and create a fantastic study tool. The student can also just highlight the online version itself. Fourth, I wanted to reduce the cost as much as possible. Fifth, my course is online, why not the textbook? Many of my students appreciate the savings offered by the online version. Most of my students seem to prefer having a few pounds of paper nestled comfortably in their laps, so the AtomicDog approach of print + online works nicely for them, and it is still significantly less than the cost of most textbooks. As soon as AtomicDog has a lifespan developmental textbook available, I will likely adopt that one, too. My current Dev publisher originally offered an eBook version but has dropped that option. If I ever go back to teaching on-campus classes, I would likely adopt the AtomicDog textbook(s) there, also. I like them that much. "Karl L. Wuensch" wrote: > I have used an E-book. The students do appreciate the lower price. I would > feel a bit uncomfortable about the E-book not being as good as several > traditional texts that are a lot more expensive if I did not supplement the > course with LOTS of online instructional materials of my own. > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Karl L. Wuensch, Department of Psychology, > East Carolina University, Greenville NC 27858-4353 > Voice: 252-328-4102 Fax: 252-328-6283 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://core.ecu.edu/psyc/wuenschk/klw.htm > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences" <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2005 1:47 PM > Subject: high cost of textbooks > > by the way, have any of you used an e-book (such as Trochims methods book) > and are able to comment on how well such book are received by students? > > take care, blaine > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- ----------==========>>>>>>>>>> ��� <<<<<<<<<<==========---------- Sometimes you just have to try something, and see what happens. John W. Nichols, M.A. Assistant Professor of Psychology Tulsa Community College 909 S. Boston Ave., Tulsa, OK 74119 (918) 595-7134 Home: http://www.tulsa.oklahoma.net/~jnichols MegaPsych: http://www.tulsa.oklahoma.net/~jnichols/megapsych.html --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
