Students’ perceptions of the usefulness of an E-book with annotative and sharing capabilities as a tool for learning: a case study

Abstract

E-books offer a range of benefits to both educators and students, including ease of accessibility and searching capabilities. However, the majority of current e-books are repository-cum-delivery platforms of textual information. Hitherto, there is a lack of empirical research that examines e-books with annotative and sharing capabilities. This research study aims at exploring the usefulness of a next-generation e-book (NG-eBook), with annotative and sharing capabilities, with the focus on using the e-book to promote student learning through reflection and sharing of ideas. Thirty-six tertiary level students from three diploma modules participated in the study. Overall findings suggest that the NG-eBook promoted student learning experiences by enabling student engagement and interaction. Future research directions pertaining to the use of e-books in education contexts are suggested.

Keywords:

• annotative
• sharing
• e-book
• pedagogy
• technology