It has been an age-old fight between students and publishing houses over the cost of college textbooks—often times it is the students that come out on bottom. Traditional textbooks, which are considered drastically overpriced and underused, only offer a “one-way street” learning style.
For every three credit hour class a student takes, on average, they spend nine hours a week outside the classroom doing the reading and homework assignments (1). While reading, students often have questions or require clarification that, traditionally, they will have to wait until the next in-class session to address the issue.
A digital textbook that was a blend between ebook, wiki and a discussion board could facilitate a more social learning environment when they students are not in the presence of their classroom at a fraction of the cost.
In this study, the cost of textbooks and students’ tendency to not buy class materials due to cost will be discussed as well as the students’ thoughts on the usage of ebooks. This study will also propose a new type of social ebook and put it into practice.
1. Wayne State University: General Scheduling Information http://www.et.eng.wayne.edu/index.php/current-students/scheduling/general-scheduling-information
