E-READERS AND E-BOOKS : THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

Mary Jane ClerkinBerkeley College

Catherine Kelley Fairleigh Dickinson University

About Fairleigh Dickinson University

2 campuses in the U.S. College at Florham (Morris County, NJ) Metropolitan Campus (Bergen County, NJ)

2 international campuses (not part of the pilot) 12,000 students

8,585 Undergraduates 262 Full-time faculty

E-Reader Initiative

A mandate from the University President A collaborative effort involving:

The campus libraries The Center for Teaching and Learning with Technology

(CTLT) The Office of Information Resources Technology (OIRT) Two literature classes

What is an e-Reader?

A reading device that allows you to: Read books, magazines, newspapers, blogs Take notes, highlight and bookmark text

Laptop / desktop / netbook computers can be e-readers

Smart phones can be e-readers Current generation of electronic paper reading

devices – Kindle, Sony, Nook … iPad and other tablet devices

E-readers used at FDU

Amazon Kindle Features

Two sizes No backlight, but easy to read in direct sunlight Wireless access via AT&T’s 3G network Newer models also allow WiFi (or only have WiFi) Proprietary DRM format Support for other text formats and PDFs Built-in keyboard, DX has textbook-sized screen Text-to-speech, plus support for audio books

Sony Reader Touch Features

6-inch touch screen Can print your notes Supports the e-pub format May borrow e-books from public libraries No wireless access (PRS-900 only) – must transfer

books via PC connection No mobile app for smart phones, it’s in the works Can store up to 350 e-books Have to install books via USB (most models)

iPod Touch Features

Free Kindle app from Amazon Other e-book apps available from iTunes store Synchronize device with Kindle Does everything an iPhone can do, except make

phone calls:◦ Support for video, audio, color, graphics, email, SMS

text◦ Wireless access◦ Safari browser

iPad (not used in early pilots)

Intuitive touch interface (like an iPhone or iTouch) Many reading apps, including Kindle and Barnes &

Noble nook Many other apps available Intermediate device – not an iTouch, not a full-

featured computer, but a hybrid of both

Library Pilot

Each library circulated: 4 Kindle DXs (since increased to 11 per campus) 4 Sony Reader Touches (PRS-600 and 700) 4 iPod Touches (2nd generation – since increased to 9

or 10 per campus) All pre-loaded with content – leisure reading and

required texts from Core Curriculum One week loan period Library now also circulates one iPad per campus for

use in library only (up to 2 hours)

Survey

Administered via Blackboard/WebCampus Response rate has been high Mix of student, faculty and staff borrowers Some patrons borrowed multiple devices for

comparison purposes

Survey Respondents

  SonyeReader

AmazonKindle iPod Touch Total

Faculty 4 8 1 13

Staff 1 2 2 5

Student 5 4 7 16

Total 10 14 10 34

Textbook preference by user type

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Faculty Staff Student

Strong preference fortraditional bookModerate preference fortraditional bookNo preference

Moderate preference fore-readerStrong preference for e-reader

Required features for textbook use

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

Large screen size

Listen to audio

Quickly look up words in a dictionary

Touch screen

Highlight with a pen or stylus

Take notes with a pen or stylus

Cost of textbooks lower than traditional books

Required features for textbook use

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

View video

Ability to attach a physical keyboard

Pages formatted identically to traditional book

Browse on the Internet

Print pages from textbook

Color screen

Spring 2010 Academic Pilot 2 classes –

Masterpieces of Literature II, Metro Chaucer, Florham

15 students participated in first phase of pilot Half got Kindles, half got iTouches At semester mid-point, switch to other device Surveyed four times: Setup, use for phase I and setup, use for

phase II Low response rate, but student data were very comparable to

library pilot Most Kindles returned with empty batteries

Academic Pilot – Faculty Concerns

Footnote Management Cross-referencing between two texts on Kindle Classroom management when some students

using physical texts, some using e-reader devices

The Good: E-Reader Benefits

Convenience Weight Cost of e-book titles E-ink displays are crisp, less eyestrain, vs.

fast intuitive displays on iTouch and iPad Additional features:

Built-in dictionary Link to Wikipedia (not on Sony devices) Text-to-Voice (Amazon Kindle device only) Other features

Environmental factors, use of paper

The Bad: E-Reader Limitations

Book formats and DRM Slow black and white e-ink display

(e-ink dedicated readers) vs. glare Tradeoff between speed & color vs.

lower eyestrain and ability to read in strong sunlight

Highlighting, note-taking and page navigation (varies across platforms, and getting better)

Consumer privacy and e-book permanence

The Ugly: Issues and Constraints

Establishing an Amazon corporate account, models of textbook distribution to literature students

Use of credit cards to purchase content◦ Not “purchasing department-friendly”◦ Amazon’s 1-click option – need to take care to

prevent accidental purchases◦ Tracking number of e-book licenses◦ Purchasing e-books ‘on-the-fly’

1 generic account or multiple e-reader accounts

Limitations of Sony’s e-reader software

Berkeley College

About Berkeley College

Founded in 1931, Berkeley is a coeducational college specializing in business. With seven locations in New York and New Jersey, an online campus, and an enrollment of over 8,000 students--with 655 international students in its Bachelor’s and Associate’s degree programs.

Has an Online Campus

Students in the Military

All Online Instructors Use Texts Which Have an Equivalent eBook

eText Text Book

Advantages

No Need to Stand on Line at the Bookstore or Wait for Book Delivery

No Need to Carry Heavy Books Cost Effectiveness is important to students and eBooks are

much less expensive than text books. Instant search for terms, sections, pages. Highlight Take Notes Send Print

Downloadable Version

No Need for the Internet –Downloadable Version

Sending books abroad to students serving our Country in the military is not as efficient as using eBooks.

Students do not always have access to the Internet. Portability is important to today’s students. They

can carry all their books on a small laptop.

Internet Version

No Need for a dedicated Computer-Internet Version

Convenience is important to students, they can access anywhere and any time where there is Internet access.

Mobility is important to students and they can access their eBook from their iPhones

Internet Access

Any Computer Anywhere iPhone

Students Like the iPhone Version

Available on the iPAd

Available on the Kindle

eTextbook from McGraw-Hill

McGraw-Hill and CourseSmart

CourseSmart Partners

Table of Contents the Same

Chapters, Pages, Content the Same as the Text

eText Text Book

Chapters and Pages the Same

Directions Provided

View the Table of Contents

Search

Search Feature

Type in a Word and Go

Type in the Page Number

Notes Can Be Added and Saved

View Notes

Easy to Highlight Sections

Easy to Turn the Pages

Simply Click on Next

Printing Sections is Easy

Comments from Students

Advantages

Cheaper than the print version Ease of use and portability Less strain on the back from heavy backpacks Environmentally friendly - no trees being destroyed for paper. Long-term reference material Easier note-taking for future reference.

Disadvantages: Initial investment cost for reading device Replacement cost of reading device, if damaged Loss of content - if stored on computer or damaged e-Reader Eye strain/damage from prolonged usage of electronic device to read content.