An Empirical Evaluation of a Broad Ranging E-Text Adoption with Recommendations for Improving Deployment Success for Students

Australian Business Education Research Association. PO Box 408, Mapleton, Queensland 4560, Australia. e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.ejbest.org/

Y

14

Adoption (Ideas); Business Administration Education; Intervention; Electronic Learning; Electronic Publishing; Textbook Research; Focus Groups; Student Attitudes; Student Experience; Program Implementation; Student Surveys; Correlation; Predictor Variables; Multiple Regression Analysis; Usability; Preferences; Content Analysis; Case Studies; College Students

1835-9132

Electronic course materials have several advantages over printed materials. While these advantages create an enticing argument for the adoption of electronic textbooks, there are disadvantages that may hobble e-text adoption. This case study investigates the e-text adoption process for 50 class sections across 8 business disciplines with 27 different instructors. It explores interventions that can be pursued to ameliorate important challenges and effect a more successful e-text adoption. It provides faculty, publishers, and university administrators with actionable advice for improving student response to e-text implementations. A wide variety of feelings were expressed about how e-texts are implemented, ranging from strong dissatisfaction to strong satisfaction. The results indicate that great care should be taken to ensure that as many students as possible have a positive experience during an e-text adoption. Several variables were identified as important to students and can readily be influenced and improved by faculty, administrators, and vendors. These include: "how effectively professors use the material", "price", "quality of the sign-up process", and "how useful the e-textbook platform training was". Finally, two factors, technical and functional satisfaction, should be considered when implementing e-text solutions.

As Provided

22

2018

EJ1167339