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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

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Abstract

In an age of globalization and rapid technological development, the United Arab Emirates is committed to merging technology into all higher education institutions. The purpose of this study is to identify the degree to which e-textbooks are used at Ajman University, from students’ perspectives. The study was conducted using a descriptive research model, and a 30-item questionnaire was designed to be used as a data collection tool. After its validity was verified, the questionnaire was administered to 880 participants that were recruited from a variety of colleges during the first academic semester of 2017/2018. SPSS was used to analyze the data. The study findings reveal that students at Ajman University use e-textbooks at their university to a high degree. The analysis results also showed that the degree of use varied according to gender (with females being more likely to use them), college type (with Dentistry College students being most likely), and finally according to year of study (with those in their fifth academic year being most likely). The study recommends further research on the application and use of e-textbooks in higher education institutions.

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Acknowledgements

The authors’ would like to thank Ajman University for their cooperative and the dean of scientific research for his guidance and mentorship.

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This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. (There is no funding for this paper.)

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  1. College of Humanities and Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, UAE

    Sami Al-Qatawneh, Najeh Alsalhi, Ahood Al Rawashdeh, Tizreena Ismail & Khaled Aljarrah

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  1. Sami Al-Qatawneh
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All authors were involved in research design, implementation of the study, data gathering, data analysis, and writing of the manuscript. All authors approve submission of the manuscript for publication consideration. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Najeh Alsalhi.

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Al-Qatawneh, S., Alsalhi, N., Al Rawashdeh, A. et al. 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. Educ Inf Technol 24, 2997–3019 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-019-09912-4

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