MAIN THEME – The main theme of this research is to highlight the advantages of online textbooks versus traditional textbooks in higher education. The idea of an online and “social” textbook that is a hybrid between textbook, blog and wiki will be explored, which will allow for collaborative learning and discussion. It will also examine the absenteeism of digital textbooks in mainstream education. It is important to explore these ideas to determine if there is a better and more cost effective alternative to costly traditional textbooks.
METHODOLOGY – This research project will include both secondary and primary research. The secondary research will be comprised of already published, scholarly information on the inflated prices of traditional printed college textbooks and the rise of digital textbooks (ebooks). Primary research will be conducted among college students to gauge the acceptance of ebooks when considering affordability, accessibility and the possibility of using them in a social learning environment.
FORMAT – The best way to present this research is in practice. The content will be categorized and placed into a blog format. There will be links throughout, similar to a wiki, which will take the reader on to various other subjects (both internally and externally). At the end of each “chapter” the reader will have the opportunity to contribute to the text by submitting a comment for review. Only scholarly comments that enrich the learning environment will be visible. The content will be housed at http://socialtextbooks.blogspot.com/.
SUMMATION – Through this research I expect to discover the disapproval among college students of costly textbooks and the acceptance of ebooks. I expect to find instructors and professors split evenly on their views of ebooks. I expect to find ebooks as a cheaper alternative to print textbooks unfavorable to publishers and printers. I expect to find professors and students intrigued by the idea of hybrid social textbooks that allows for online collaboration between their classmates and instructors.
