ERIC Number: EJ1145153
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Jun
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1545-679X
EISSN: N/A
Student Characteristics and E-Textbook Experiences: The Direct and Moderating Effects of Technology Savvy and Gender
Sun, Jun; Flores, Javier
Information Systems Education Journal, v11 n3 p4-14 Jun 2013
The adoption of e-textbooks in universities by the majority of students has yet to materialize, requiring a better understanding of the differences among users to cater for their different needs. The main focus of this study is to examine the role of technology savvy in terms of the experiences, skills and self-efficacy of students in using information technologies. It is hypothesized that technology savvy directly affects major e-textbook experiences, including perceived e-textbook helpfulness, student involvement and learning outcome, as well as moderates the relationships among them. Based on the data gathered through a survey, the results suggest that the e-textbook experiences of students vary significantly across technology veterans and novices, suggesting a salient direct effect of technology savvy on e-textbook experiences. Also, the mediating relationship between e-textbook helpfulness and learning outcome through student involvement is stronger for technology veterans than novices, suggesting a salient moderating effect of technology savvy on the relationships among e-textbook experiences. An additional comparison based on gender is performed to find out whether the gender stereotyping regarding technology usage holds true for the new generation of students in the use of e-textbooks. The results show that gender does not fully account for the differences in e-textbook experiences, and its moderating effect on their relationships is not as strong as that of technology savvy. To enhance the adoption of e-textbooks, therefore, it is important for publishers and instructors to customize training and support for students at different levels of technology savvy.
Descriptors: Student Characteristics, Electronic Publishing, Textbooks, Gender Differences, Technological Literacy, College Students, Technology Uses in Education, Educational Technology, Student Surveys, Questionnaires, Statistical Analysis, Experience, Factor Analysis
Information Systems and Computing Academic Professionals. Box 488, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480. e-mail: publisher@isedj.org; Web site: http://isedj.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A