Ebooks: An Alternative to Paper Books for Online Students?

Laura Elizabeth Hibbard

Abstract


This program evaluation researched ebooks as a source of literature for students attending online schools.  Students, parents, teachers, and administrators participated in focus groups, surveys, and interviews so as to determine the effectiveness of providing ebooks to online students.  It was found that while students enjoyed browsing ebooks from their school-provided desktop computers, reading ebooks to completion was difficult to enjoy without a portable, digital reading device.  Recommendations included providing tablets to allow ebook downloads and adopting an ereading pedagogy.

Keywords


e-learning; K-12 Online Schools; School Libraries; Digital Readers; ebooks; low-income students

Full Text:

PDF

References


Crowe, E. C., Connor, C. M., & Petscher, Y. (2009). Examining the core: Relations among reading curricula, poverty, and first through third grade reading achievement. Journal of School Psychology, 47(3), 187–214.

Dundar, H., & Akcayir, M. (2012). Tablet vs. Paper: The Effect on Learners’ Reading Performance. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 4(3), 441–450.

Engel-Unruh, M. (2010). ReKindling an Interest in Reading with At-Risk Students. Library Media Connection, 29(3), 54–56.

Felvégi, E., & Matthew, K. I. (2012). eBooks and Literacy in K–12 Schools. Computers in the Schools, 29(1/2), 40–52. doi:10.1080/07380569.2012.651421

Follett Corporation. (2009). Follett Shelf: eContent anywhere. Anytime (Vol. 2013).

Grzeschik, K., Kruppa, Y., Marti, D., & Donner, P. (2011). Reading in 2110 – Reading behavior and reading devices: A case study. Electronic Library, 29(3), 288–302.

Hagans, K. S. (2008). A Response-to-Intervention Approach to Decreasing Early Literacy Differences in First Graders From Different Socioeconomic Backgrounds. Assessment for Effective Intervention, 34(1), 35–42.

Hixson, M. D., & Mcglinchey, M. T. (2004). The Relationship between Race, Income, and Oral Reading Fluency and Performance on Two Reading Comprehension Measures. Journal Of Psychoeducational Assessment, 22(4), 351–364.

Hunter, P. C. (2004). Classroom Libraries Level the Playing Field. Instructor (New York, N.Y.: 1999), 113(5), 36–40, 71.

International Association for K-12 Online Learning. (2013). Fast Facts About Online Learning. iNACOL: International Association for K-12 Online Learning. Retrieved from http://www.inacol.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/iNACOL_fastfacts_October_2012.pdf

Krashen, S. (2006). Free Reading. (Cover story). School Library Journal, 52(9), 42–45.

Larson, L. C. (2009a). Digital Literacies: e-Reading and e-Responding: New Tools for the Next Generation of Readers. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 53(3), 255–258.

Larson, L. C. (2009b). Reader Response Meets New Literacies: Empowering Readers in Online Learning Communities. Reading Teacher, 62(8), 638–648.

Larson, L. C. (2010). Digital Readers: The Next Chapter in E-Book Reading and Response. The Reading Teacher, 64(1), 15–22.

Larson, L. C. (2012). It’s Time to Turn the Digital Page: Preservice Teachers Explore E-Book Reading. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 56(4), 280–290. doi:10.1002/JAAL.00141

Larson, L. C. (2013). From Print Texts to e-Books: The Changing Nature of Literacy. Kappa Delta Pi Record, 49(4), 168–173. doi:10.1080/00228958.2013.845505

Ohio Department of Education. (2012a). Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow 2011-2012 School Year Report Card. Ohio Department of Education. Retrieved from http://www.ode.state.oh.us/reportcardfiles/2011-2012/BUILD/133413.pdf

Ohio Department of Education. (2012b). Virtual Community School of Ohio 2011-2012 School Year Report Card. Ohio Department of Education. Retrieved from http://www.ode.state.oh.us/reportcardfiles/2011-2012/BUILD/143537.pdf

Popp, P. A. (2004). Reading on the Go! Students Who Are Highly Mobile and Reading Instruction. National Center for Homeless Education. Retrieved from http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED489999.pdf

Rasinski, T. V., & Padak, N. (2011). Who Wants to Be a (Reading) Millionaire? The Reading Teacher, 64(7), 553–555.

Reis, S. M., & Fogarty, E. A. (2006). Savoring Reading Schoolwide. Educational Leadership, 64(2), 32–36.

Roblyer, M. D. (2008). Virtual Schools: Redefining “A Place Called School.†In J. Voogt & G. Knezek (Eds.), (Vol. 20, pp. 695–711). Springer International Handbooks of Education.

Rose, R., & Blomeyer, R. (2007). Access and Equity in Online Classes and Virtual Schools. NACOL: North American Council for Online Learning. Retrieved from http://www.inacol.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/iNACOL_AccessEquity_2007.pdf

White, T. G., & Kim, J. S. (2008). Teacher and Parent Scaffolding of Voluntary Summer Reading. The Reading Teacher, 62(2), 116–125.

Zambarbieri, D., & Carniglia, E. (2012). Eye movement analysis of reading from computer displays, eReaders and printed books. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics, 32(5), 390–396.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


e-ISSN: 1694-2116

p-ISSN: 1694-2493