E-Textbook: Usage and Perceptions at University of Bahrain, CHS

Books are now becoming increasingly available in the electronic format. Textbooks are no exception. E-textbooks offer a range of benefits to both educators and learners, including the ease of accessibility and search capabilities. In this study, we assess student perceptions of the e-textbook compared to the traditional paper textbook. Further, we are interested to understand students´ perspectives and recognize what they perceive as problematic in using e-textbooks. This study also discusses the acceptance and readiness of the teaching faculty to use e-textbooks in the classroom. A survey was conducted using faculty and students from the College of Health Sciences, University of Bahrain as the sample population. Survey results showed that 71 % of the students wouldn´t use the e-textbook, and 76 % would use the conventional textbook if they were given the choice. In addition, 45% would prefer using e-textbooks as learning resource material, and only 7% were willing to substitute it for the traditional textbooks. Although several teaching faculty are embracing the new technology, others are somewhat resistant to this shift to the use of a new form of learning/teaching materials. In fact, 50% of the CHS faculty had positive perceptions to using e-textbooks, and have had some experience of using it in teaching or learning. However, 75% are of the opinion that paper text books can´t be replaced by e-textbooks in the learning process. It was, therefore, recommended that the CHS promote the culture of e-learning, and encourage teaching faculty and students to make better use of e-learning facilities as an innovative mode of knowledge and skills acquisition.