Jeff, That's fascinating stuff. I wonder if any other research has been done on that.
I have an eReader (one of those nifty little electronic deals where you download books and read them on its little screen). I love it, carry it with me everywhere so I always have something to read if I'm waiting in line somewhere or traveling, but still I find that for non-travel reading, I prefer a "real" book. I thought it was my conditioning for loving the feel of a book. Now I wonder if it might be because for faster reading, you'd do better with paper. Beth Benoit Granite State College Plymouth State University New Hampshire On 9/7/07, Jeffrey Nagelbush <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > 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. Play now!<http://www.cafemessenger.com/?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_SeptWLtagline> > > --- > To make changes to your subscription go > to:http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english > > ---
