Going Digital in the Classroom: E-text Initiative

By: Michael Johnson
Library Coordinator/ Librarian South Shore Campus HCC

Daytona State College recently held a conference on e text books called “Going digital in the Classroom: E-text initiative” This grant funded project employed 4 different models on acquiring course materials in a fashion other than the traditional purchase at College Book store Estimates of up to 80 percent savings were put to the test.

The researchers began by doing a literature review of other attempts by colleges to move to digital materials. The research did not find any schools that had adopted this practice on a college wide basis.

Rising Costs, availability and the static nature of print textbooks were all sighted as an impetus to strive toward a new model. Some of the advantages of an e text model would be daily or weekly updated to the material, cost savings and a less of chance of editors avoiding controversial issues in the texts
The first model was a Print based rental model. Highlights included:

• Textbook Rental at College Library
• Semester Rental Price $35-$15
• Return Text to the Library at the End of Semester
• Students who did not Return Textbooks were held Responsible for the Full Book Price

The Second model was a Netbook model. Highlights included:

• Smaller, lighter version of laptop
• Netbook issued to student on the first day of class
• Student Netbook agreement
• Acceptance form
• Purpose of device is to allow access to the e-textbook
• Netbook return at the last day of class or by appointment with College HelpDesk

The third model was an E-book model. Highlights included:

• Access code purchased at College Bookstore
• Access online
• 180,360, or 540 days purchase term
• Model dependent on student’s computer access
• Inability to markup, highlight, or reference during class without personal computer

The next model was rental Book club run as a traditional student club. Highlights included:

• Overwhelmingly favorable reception
• Substantial cost savings at the student-level
• Opportunity to take more classes per term
• Ease and efficiency of the rental process
• Confident that books will be available
• Students “adapted” their approach to studying in lieu of writing in the book
• Social networking, making contacts, skill development
• Concerns about quality of used books.

The presenting panel took Questions from the audience in an effort to expand the nuances of each plan.

For example the issue of highlighting and note taking ability of some of the newer e-book models was seen as a boon to students who used these methods in their studies
Infrastructure issues plagued the Ebook model with students attending class with dead batteries and minimal power outlets available in the classrooms.

The Rental of textbooks model that was run by the library seemed at odds with the nature of libraries. I.e. that there is no cost using a library. In addition the model would make library staff have to handle and account for monies that were collected. The storage of the moneys and who or where it would be spent was not clear. Lost / Damaged textbooks would result in a hold on a student record that will need an administrator to place and remove holds on student records. Traditional library materials processed using a LMS would have these functions automated.

The Student run Book club model was the overwhelming favorite of the students surveyed. Its ease of use and confidence level was noted by students. The other models all still suffered from all the problems associated with technology. The pitfalls of hardware and software as well as classroom support were all problems that were experienced. Getting everyone of the same page with the technological requirements needed planning and a single strategy. This can be difficult with many different agendas. The students I questioned had the latest in software and were somewhat savvy in computers. . They mentioned a sold wireless system as being key to implementing some of the models.

Notably absent were the book publishers and Book stores who profit off of the traditional system of purchase and buy back policies.

The research/ Seminar was helpful in its trailblazing efforts to tackle these issues but a good deal of work remains to be done.

Finally students have taken these matters in their own hands and created sites like Library Pirate.

These sites offer free downloads of textbooks organized outside of school parameters and the legality of these sites in up in the air.