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TMCNet: Northwest Missouri State U.: eReader pilot gives Northwest Missouri State U. new ideas on digital books

[December 05, 2008]

Northwest Missouri State U.: eReader pilot gives Northwest Missouri State U. new ideas on digital books

(U-Wire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge)
UWIRE-12/04/2008-Northwest Missouri State U.: eReader pilot gives
Northwest Missouri State U. new ideas on digital books (C) 2008
Northwest Missourian via UWIRE

By Whitney Keyes, Northwest Missourian (Northwest Missouri State U.)

MARYVILLE, Mo. -- Northwest Missouri State University, in its 21st year
as the Electronic Campus, thought it had the next big thing.

However, despite high hopes for the eReader program, Northwest has
decided to go a different direction than originally anticipated.

At the beginning of the trimester, a pilot program was designed to give
four classes the Sony eReader to use, instead of a hard-copy textbook.

The device works similarly to an iPod; students download all their
textbooks onto it, can carry it anywhere and choose from hundred of
reading options.

The pilot program focused on four individual classes; one section each
of Intercultural Communication, Introduction to Philosophy, America: A
Historical Survey and Program Planning and Agricultural Education .

Assistant to the President Paul Klute worked with a planning committee
to design a feedback system that focused on students', teachers' and
publisher's thoughts. Three meetings were to be held, one a month in
November, October and December.but when it came time to study, Stewart
wasn't sold on the eReader's capabilities.

Stewart returned to Textbook Services to reclaim her hard-copy textbook
and was told she wasn't the first.

Fellow classmate Kasey Laber was also discouraged by the eReader; she
attributed most of the problem to a lack of training on how to use them.

She used the device for her study guides the whole trimester, she said,
even though it took longer to use the eReader than it would a hard-copy
textbook.

"We used it for this last project we did; it was more of a hassle
though. People ended up arguing," Laber said. "It's very in with the
times, but it's not ready for the school."

Despite the frustration Laber and Stewart experienced with the
eReaders, both agree it was worth a try.

"I like that they actually let us try it, we actually got to use it,"
Stewart said. "Now, because what we said, they aren't using them."

Klute also sees the pilot as a worthwhile attempt. Because of the
pilot, the University is now considering eTextbooks. Without this pilot
program, Northwest would have overlooked eTextbooks.

For the next trimester, the University is plans to have at least one
class per department utilizing an eTextbook program of its choice. Much
like faculty decides on the publisher and textbook for each class, the
same freedom will be given, within reason, for eTextbooks.

Klute and other faculty are still deciding on which classes will be
involved. Other important discussions include cost, implementation of
the eTextbooks and laptop distribution.

"After the first (meeting with student eReader users) it was apparent
the eReaders weren't going to be a viable option like we originally
thought," Klute said.

The electronic book industry, Klute said, is working toward being what
Northwest and other users need it to be, but hasn't quite made it.

The Sony model Northwest used does not have a search mode, color or the
ability to show images.

"The idea of all your books in an easy-to-read, lightweight format is
great, but it definitely needs some work," Lyndsey Stewart said.

Stewart was involved in the pilot through her Intercultural
Communication class, a fairly textbook-heavy course, she said.

She enjoyed reading fiction on the device, where she could read
straight through and not worry about flipping pages,

##30##

((Distributed on bahalf of U-Wire via M2 Communications Ltd -
http://www.m2.com))
((U-Wire - http://www.uwire.com))

Copyright ? 2008 U-Wire

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