This reminds me of a project I supervised for a high school student a number of years ago in which she had other students read an essay either on paper or on the computer. She then tested their comprehension of what they read. The passage they read was fairly short and no difference in comprehension was found, but there was one striking difference. Every student who read the paper version finished reading before the first student who had the computer version finished reading. If this is a generalizable result it might partially explain why students read less from the electronic textbook. It was taking longer to read and they got tired/bored.
Jeff Nagelbush [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ferris State University Subject: RE: [tips] E-Texts vs. Hard Copy Texts Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2007 13:58:32 -0400 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [email protected] -- Here is a relevant study in press at ToP. Evaluating the Electronic Textbook: Is it Time to Dispense with the Paper Text? Jodi L. Grace Erika J. Koch James Shepperd University of Florida Abstract The electronic textbook provides students with an alternative to the traditional paper textbook. We examined how students perceive the electronic text and how classroom performance with the two formats compare. Students from an introductory psychology class (N = 392) chose between purchasing the paper or electronic text. Survey responses revealed no significant difference in course grades between the two formats. However, students using the electronic text reported spending less time reading for class compared to those students using the paper text, and generally evaluated the electronic text unfavorably. No student who purchased an electronic text in a prior class chose to purchase it for introductory psychology. These findings suggest that it may be premature to abandon the paper text in favor of the electronic text. ***Copy of full version available from authors*** **************************************************** Marie Helweg-Larsen, Ph.D. Department Chair and Associate Professor of Psychology Dickinson College, P.O. Box 1773 Carlisle, PA 17013 Office: (717) 245-1562, Fax: (717) 245-1971 http://alpha.dickinson.edu/departments/psych/helwegm **************************************************** From: David Campbell [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, September 07, 2007 1:15 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] E-Texts vs. Hard Copy Texts I am currently reaching an online section of intro psyc using the Myers text with PsychPortal as our website (access code packaged with the text). Next semester, I may have the option of allowing students to purchase the PsychPortal access card alone. This website comes with 12-month access to the complete Myers text as an e-book (with hot links to videos and research simulations, reading "tools" for highlighting, adding notes, etc.). My question for TIPS is whether anyone has experience teaching a course using an e-text in place of the traditional hardcopy. Or would anyone venture an opinion without direct experience? My own experience is that it is difficult and tiring to read text for extended periods of time from a computer screen. And highlighting, writing notes, etc. seems to work better when I am working with printed paper as opposed to a computer screen. I find myself printing out research articles when I want to really work them over for studying or editing. Would I be doing the students a favor by encouraging them to forgo the printed text and work only from an e-text next semester? They will save some money doing so but will there be a cost in the quality of their education? -Dave -- -- ___________________________________________________________________ David E. Campbell, Ph.D. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Department of Psychology Phone: 707-826-3721 Humboldt State University FAX: 707-826-4993 Arcata, CA 95521-8299 www.humboldt.edu/~campbell/psyc.htm --- To make changes to your subscription go to: http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english --- To make changes to your subscription go to: http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english _________________________________________________________________ Kick back and relax with hot games and cool activities at the Messenger Café. http://www.cafemessenger.com?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_SeptWLtagline ---
