Pilot Study on eBook Adoption
- TL Contact: Bob Henshaw
- Collaborators: Center for Faculty Excellence, UNC Student Stores
- Project Began: June 1, 2008
- Project Ends: June 1, 2009
- Link: Electronic Textbook Adoption at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Fall 2008 Pilot Study Report
Description: Fall 2008 marked the first semester that electronic textbooks were available on campus through Student Stores, the University's primary textbook seller. The first of a two-phase ebook pilot was conducted during the fall 2008 semester. Twelve instructors and more than 1,200 students participated. Information gathered during the first phase focused on student textbook use, purchasing decisions and familiarity with ebook products. The second phase of the pilot, being conducted during the spring 2009 semester, explores some of the potential impacts of ebooks on teaching and learning at the University.
The primary goals of the first phase of the pilot were to identify steps needed to help make instructors and students more informed consumers in the emerging ebook market. The second phase of the pilot is to assess an early instructional application of the ebooks in a small undergraduate course.
An internal report on the findings of the pilot study has been circulated on campus, and a number of its recommendations are already being implemented. For example, immediate steps are being taken to make improved information about ebooks available in time for instructors ordering textbooks for the fall 2009 semester.
