Challenges of Using E-Textbooks Among Grades 9 and 10 Public School Students in Oman
Keywords:
ebook barriers, ebook issues, e-textbook adoption
Abstract
The use of technology in the education field is considered an effective method for motivating students. E-textbooks are replacing printed books as a popular educational strategy in some countries because of their benefits like being lighter to carry, portable, ease of use and storage capacity. Although it has many benefits, studies have shown that its adoption is challenging for students. This study aimed to investigate the challenges that ninth and tenth-grade public school students faced while using e-textbooks in the Sultanate of Oman during the COVID-19 pandemic. A questionnaire was conducted with 429 students. The findings show that the attitudes of students towards e-textbooks were negative, where over 94% of students prefer printed books because of their reduced eye strain. The study revealed ergonomics, technology, UX and finance barriers to e-textbook adoption. Based on these results, instructional designers should work to make e-textbooks more enjoyable and desirable for students.
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Shah, M., & Desai, R. (2021). Prevalence of Neck Pain and Back Pain in Computer Users Working from Home during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Web-Based Survey. In International Journal of Health Sciences and Research (www.ijhsr.org) (Vol. 11, Issue 2). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358367104
Slimi, Z. (2020). Online learning and teaching during COVID-19: A case study from Oman. In International Journal of Information Technology and Language Studies (IJITLS) (Vol. 4, Issue 2). http://journals.sfu.ca/ijitls
Smith, W. G. (2008). Does Gender Influence Online Survey Participation? A Record-Linkage Analysis of University Faculty Online Survey Response Behavior. ERIC Document Reproduction Service No ED501717.
Srirahayu, D. P., & Premananto, G. C. (2020). The Printed Book and Electronic Book (Ebook) Experiences of Digital Natives in Indonesia. Journal of Southwest Jiaotong University, 55(6). https://doi.org/10.35741/issn.0258-2724.55.6.17
Wang, X., & Xing, W. (2019). Understanding Elementary Students’ Use of Digital Textbooks on Mobile Devices: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 57(3), 755–776. https://doi.org/10.1177/0735633118758643
Wiese, M., & du Plessis, G. (2015). The battle of the e-textbook: Libraries’ role in facilitating student acceptance and use of e-textbooks. South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science, 80(2). https://doi.org/10.7553/80-2-1509
Wolbers, H., Ackerman, J., & Ready, J. (2022). The Role of Self-Control in Predicting Intimate Partner Violence Specialization in an Australian Community Sample. Journal of Family Violence. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-022-00412-7
Al-Qatawneh, S., Alsalhi, N., al Rawashdeh, A., Ismail, T., & Aljarrah, K. (2019). To E-textbook or not to E-textbook? A quantitative analysis of the extent of the use of E-textbooks at Ajman University from students’ perspectives. Education and Information Technologies, 24(5), 2997–3019. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-019-09912-4
Alsadoon, H. (2020). Obstacles to Using E-Books in Higher Education. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 8(2), 44. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.8n.2p.44
Alshaya, H., & Oyaid, A. (2017). Designing and Publication of Interactive E-Book for Students of Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University: An Empirical Study. Journal of Education and Practice, 8(8), 41–57. http://ezproxy.lib.uconn.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1138827&site=ehost-live%0Ahttp://ezproxy.lib.uconn.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.comma/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1138827&site=ehost-
Asrowi, Hadaya, A., & Hanif, M. (2019). The impact of using the interactive e-book on students’ learning outcomes. International Journal of Instruction, 12(2), 709–722. https://doi.org/10.29333/iji.2019.12245a
B. FARHAN, & S. AASHA. (2020). Role of e-books and e-learning. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCHES IN SOCIAL SCIENCE AND INFORMATION STUDIES, 8209(Iii), 315–319.
Cheng, P. Y., Su, Y. N., Chien, Y. C., Wu, T. T., & Huang, Y. M. (2018). An Investigation of Visual Fatigue in Elementary School Students Resulting from Reading e-books. Journal of Internet Technology, 19(5), 1285–1292. https://doi.org/10.3966/160792642018091905001
Cifuentes-Faura, J., Obor, D. O., To, L., & Al-Naabi, I. (2021). Cross-cultural impacts of covid-19 on higher education learning and teaching practices in Spain, Oman, Nigeria and Cambodia: A cross-cultural study. Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, 18(5). https://doi.org/10.53761/1.18.5.8
Daniel Oriogu, C., Idowu Oluwatola, K., Chima Oriogu-Ogbuiyi, D., & Enamudu, A. I. (2018). Awareness and Use of Electronic Books among Undergraduate Students: A Survey. In Chuks Daniel.
Eltahir, M. E., Al-Qatawneh, S., & Alsalhi, N. (2019). E-textbooks and their application levels, from the perspective of faculty members at Ajman University, U.A.E. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 14(13), 88–104. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v14i13.9489
Gong, C., & Xie, T. (2018). Exploring desirable features of e-textbooks for K-12 Classes: A case study. Proceedings - 2018 7th International Conference of Educational Innovation through Technology, EITT 2018, 123–127. https://doi.org/10.1109/EITT.2018.00032
Hadaya, A., Asrowi, A., & Sunardi, S. (2018). Perception of Junior High School Students about the Use of E-books as Learning Sources. Journal of Educational Science and Technology (EST), 4(1), 55. https://doi.org/10.26858/est.v4i1.5219
Halim, F. S. S., & Widyanti, A. (2018). E-book in Indonesia: Reason to use and usability evaluation. IEEE, 154–158.
Majid, S., Chenqin, Y., Chang, Y., & Zilu, C. (2019). Perceptions and E-book Use Behavior of University Students. International Journal for Digital Society, 10(4), 1534–1540. https://doi.org/10.20533/ijds.2040.2570.2019.0190
Ministry of Education. (2022). https://home.moe.gov.om/region/dakhlia/topics/1/show/7764.
Okocha, F. (2020). Determinants of the adoption academic electronic books by university students in a developing country. International Journal of Information and Communication Technology Education, 16(4), 111–121. https://doi.org/10.4018/IJICTE.2020100108
Oriogu, C. D. O., Oluwatola, K. I., Oriogu-Ogbuiyi, D. C., & Enamudu, I., A. (2018). Awareness and Use of Electronic Books among Undergraduate Students : A Survey. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-Journal). https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac
Plangsorn, B., Poopan, S., & Plangsorna, B. (2017). Development of producing and using e-books competencies of teachers in Chachengsao. In Chachengsao, Thailand. World Journal on Educational Technology (Vol. 09, Issue 02). www.wj-et.eu
Saadi, A., al Hafeedh, M., & al Sheithani Zainab Al Wishahi, A. (2017). Are We Ready for E-books? Omani University Students’ Uses and Perceptions of E-books. In TOJET: The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology (Vol. 16, Issue 2).
Safar, A. H. (2020). Kuwait University Students’ Awareness, Usage, Perceptions, and Satisfaction Pertaining to e-Books.
Shah, M., & Desai, R. (2021). Prevalence of Neck Pain and Back Pain in Computer Users Working from Home during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Web-Based Survey. In International Journal of Health Sciences and Research (www.ijhsr.org) (Vol. 11, Issue 2). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358367104
Slimi, Z. (2020). Online learning and teaching during COVID-19: A case study from Oman. In International Journal of Information Technology and Language Studies (IJITLS) (Vol. 4, Issue 2). http://journals.sfu.ca/ijitls
Smith, W. G. (2008). Does Gender Influence Online Survey Participation? A Record-Linkage Analysis of University Faculty Online Survey Response Behavior. ERIC Document Reproduction Service No ED501717.
Srirahayu, D. P., & Premananto, G. C. (2020). The Printed Book and Electronic Book (Ebook) Experiences of Digital Natives in Indonesia. Journal of Southwest Jiaotong University, 55(6). https://doi.org/10.35741/issn.0258-2724.55.6.17
Wang, X., & Xing, W. (2019). Understanding Elementary Students’ Use of Digital Textbooks on Mobile Devices: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 57(3), 755–776. https://doi.org/10.1177/0735633118758643
Wiese, M., & du Plessis, G. (2015). The battle of the e-textbook: Libraries’ role in facilitating student acceptance and use of e-textbooks. South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science, 80(2). https://doi.org/10.7553/80-2-1509
Wolbers, H., Ackerman, J., & Ready, J. (2022). The Role of Self-Control in Predicting Intimate Partner Violence Specialization in an Australian Community Sample. Journal of Family Violence. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-022-00412-7
Published
2023-04-15
How to Cite
Al Masuudi, N., Sutan Ahmad Nawi, H., Osman, S., & Al- Maqbali, H. A. (2023). Challenges of Using E-Textbooks Among Grades 9 and 10 Public School Students in Oman. Selangor Science & Technology Review (SeSTeR), 7(1), 22-28. Retrieved from https://sester.journals.unisel.edu.my/ojs/index.php/sester/article/view/316
Section
Articles in English
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