Potential Issues on Initiatively Utilizing eTextbooks in K-12 - PDF document

Potential Issues on Initiatively Utilizing eTextbooks in K-12 Classrooms ChaoHua GONG Supervisor: Prof. Ronghuai HUANG Beijing Normal University gongchaohua@gmail.com Outline � Motivation � Research questions � Literature review � Research design � Findings

Motivation What is eTextbook? � a special kind of eBook developed according to curriculum standards, which meets the students’ reading habits, facilitates organizing learning activities, and presents its contents in accordance with paper book style.(Guang Chen, Chaohua Gong, Ronghuai Huang,2012) According to a survey concerning the feasibility of eTextbook in K- 12 schools in Beijing (Chaohua Gong, Guang Chen, Ronghuai Huang ,2012) � views on feasible to utilize eTextbooks in classrooms � 88% of the 144 teachers � 97% of the 516 students � 100% of the 25 parents � challenges to be faced � devices stability, user experience with eTextbooks, visual fatigue from staring at small screen, learning process management, etc. � great concerns with whether eTextbooks could keep the classroom as smoothly as before Research Questions � (1) What technical issues will influence a class running smoothly? � (2)What factors will influence the user experience from the teachers’ view and students’ view? � (3) What challenges will be faced when teachers are preparing eTextbook classes?

Literature review � technical issues (Steve K.& Gary B. ,2003; Galletta, D.F. ， 004; Liang M.2011 ） � technical failure of the software and hardware devices; � the delays in the system because of page loading speed, network, infrastructure, etc. � eTextbook user experience (Luca C. ,2011; MorvilleP.,2004; Effie L.L.,2011; Chong, P.F.,2011; Kang, Y.,2009; Silas M.,2012 ） � testing user experience included attitudes, motivations, technique skills, personal habits, curiosity, satisfaction, etc. � class preparation when using eTextbooks in classrooms (Jun S.M., 2009; DeJong, M.T.,2003; Amelia K. M., 2010; Meurant R.C.,2010) � eTextbook content development, learning activity design, advanced information and communications infrastructure, and the capacity to utilize the digital environment,etc. Research design the framework for eTextbooks in classroom

Research design � two elementary schools (Hepingli No.9 Primary School and Dongsijiutiao Primary School) in Beijing � Teachers � Chinese ： 5 � English ： 3 � Science ： 1 � Students � Boys of Grade 4 ： 99 � Girls of Grade 4 ： 104 Research design � Redesigning eTextbooks � Developed eTextbooks via iBooks Author

Research design � Redesigning eTextbooks � Developed eTextbooks via iBooks Author Research design � Scenario of classroom activities

Research design � iTeach interaction platform Research design � List of classes with eTextbooks N Date Start School Subject Topic Teacher Class Student O. from (n) 1 Jun. 4 8:50am DPS English Work places and jobs Ms. Zhou 1 34 2 Jun. 5 8:50am DPS English Work places and jobs Ms. Zhou 2 25 3 Jun. 5 10:40am DPS Chinese Uygur in Hetian Ms. Rong 2 25 4 Jun. 20 8:00am HPS Chinese A Chinese Myth: “Goddess Ms. Zhang 1 37 Patching the Sky” 5 Jun. 20 9:50am HPS Science How Do Plants Spread Seeds? Mr. Li 1 37 6 Jun. 20 9:50am HPS English How many classes do you have Ms. Guo 1 37 today? 7 Sep. 25 8:00am HPS Chinese Birds Paradise Ms. Liu 4 34 8 Sep. 25 8:50am HPS Chinese Birds Paradise Ms. Zhang 1 37 9 Sep. 25 9:50am HPS Chinese Birds Paradise Ms. Lu 2 38 10 Sep. 25 10:40am HPS Chinese Birds Paradise Ms. Wang 3 35 11 Oct. 10 8:00am HPS English Days in a week Ms. Guo 1 37 12 Oct. 10 8:50am HPS English Days in a week Ms .Yang 3 35 13 Oct. 10 9:50am HPS English Days in a week Ms. Yang 4 34 14 Oct. 10 10:40am HPS English Days in a week Ms. Guo 2 38

Research design � Research tools Dimension Item Code Data source Technical issues Failure of devices and software TF Lecture video coding Delay of system response TD Lecture video coding Switching among systems delay TS Lecture video coding User experience Attitude to innovation UTA Interview from teachers Motivation UTM Interview Teaching habits UTC Interview Technique skills UTT Interview Satisfaction UTS Interview User experience Attitude to new devices and technology USA Interview Questionnaire from students Motivation USM Interview Questionnaire Curiosity USC Interview Questionnaire Learning habits USH Interview Questionnaire Technique skills UST Interview Questionnaire Satisfaction USS Interview Questionnaire Class preparation Instructional design CI Interview Material preparation CM Interview Devices equipment CD Interview Software installation CS Interview Findings 1.What technical issues will influence a class running smoothly? 1.1 Technical failure for each class(TF) On teachers’ iPad On students’ iPad Total times Guo1 1 9 10 Guo2 2 4 6 Guo3 1 5 6 Zhou1 1 7 8 Zhou2 0 3 3 Zhang1 2 7 9 Zhang2 2 3 5 Yang1 1 5 6 Yang2 1 3 4 Lu 0 7 7 Wang 2 5 7 Rong 2 6 8 Li 1 4 5 Liu 1 6 7 17 74 91

Findings 1.What technical issues will influence a class running smoothly? 1.1 Technical failure for each class(TF) LAN failure: Students were unable to log into iTeach • client with iPad. Software platform failure: Teachers were unable to • see the assignments from teachers’ client, which students submitted from students’ client. Abnormal exit of iBooks during teachers’ operation • No response of widgets embedded in eTextbooks • when students clicking on. No response when tapping eTextbooks on iBooks • bookshelf. Failure to take notes and highlight the texts. • Findings 1.What technical issues will influence a class running smoothly? 1.2 Delay of system response(TD) , switch among systems delay(TS) TD TS Total Time(s) Overtime(s) % of (Total) Guo1 61 102 2580 180 6.32% Guo2 22 80 2741 341 3.72% Guo3 25 60 2549 149 3.33% Zhou1 42 105 2500 100 5.88% Zhou2 12 82 2470 70 3.81% Zhang1 41 91 2535 135 5.21% Zhang2 26 79 2470 70 4.25% Yang1 15 89 2620 220 3.97% Yang2 20 75 2560 160 3.71% Lu 22 101 2590 190 4.75% Wang 19 70 2525 125 3.52% Rong 14 89 2640 240 3.90% Li 23 69 2615 215 3.52% Liu 98 132 2710 310 8.49%

Findings 1.What technical issues will influence a class running smoothly? technological factor is still a key issue for teachers to • meet in the classroom more time to spend on refreshing system in case of • failure of devices and software more time to switch among the devices and software due • to the teachers’ lack of familiarity with the operation of the device, the diversity of user operational habits, system stability, etc. Findings 2.What factors will influence the user experience from the teachers’ views and students’ views respectively? 2.1 User experience from teachers • Attitude to innovation and Motivation • advantages in using eTextbooks: the interactive function of eTextbooks, wireless projecting, and instant feedbacks • most of the teachers are motivated to use eTextbooks in their classrooms six teachers were motivated by many features which • they had never experienced before Two teachers were skeptical about using eTextbooks • in classrooms One teacher did not want to use iPad in her class • anymore.

Findings 2.What factors will influence the user experience from the teachers’ views and students’ views respectively? 2.1 User experience from teachers • Teaching habits and Technique skills very easy to use eTextbooks in classrooms （ four • teachers ） adding eTextbooks to the classroom are keeping in pace with our already technology-rich classrooms, including showing students’ products, highlighting the texts or taking notes on the (e)textbook, etc a little difficult to use eTextbooks in classrooms （ three • teachers ） paid more attention to the handheld devices (iPad) （ two • teachers ） Findings 2.What factors will influence the user experience from the teachers’ views and students’ views respectively? 2.1 User experience from teachers • Satisfaction eTextbooks made the whole class more active(Nine • teachers) wanted to continue using eTextbook in their classrooms • (Six teachers) would like to recommend eTextbooks to others (Six • teachers)