Click, Explore, and Learn: Graduate Students’ Experiences and Attitudes Toward Using E-Books for College-Level Courses

The main purpose of this qualitative research was to explore graduate students’: (a) interpretations of their experiences with the use of e-books for learning; (b) reasons that influence their preference to use e-books or printed books when they learn; (c) perceptions toward e-books impact on learning; (d) perceptions toward the influence of prior technological experience, knowledge, and confidence on opinions and decisionmaking associated with e-books; (e) interpretations of their experiences with the use of a given e-book; and (f) recommendations of changes to e-books to better supporting their learning. Participants were 20 graduate students at one of the midsize universities in the Western United States. Purposeful sampling was applied to the selection of participants along with the proposed selection criteria. The data collection procedure was comprised of three phases and three data collection methods (interviews, observations, and artifacts). Interview transcripts were the main data source in this research. Observational data and artifacts were considered as supplementary data. In this phenomenological research, the trustworthiness was examined through the consideration of three criteria (credibility, transferability, and dependability). A phenomenological data analysis was employed to analyze the data. A theoretical lens comprised of several supporting learning theories to the constructivism learning approach was utilized to analyze the results and provide insight on students’ learning experiences with e-books. Such learning theories include behaviorist learning theory (self-testing), cognitive load theory, information processing theory, social constructivism theory, dual coding theory, self-efficacy theory, and cognitive theory of multimedia learning. Five major themes and 16 sub themes emerged from participants\u27 interpretations of their experiences with the use of e-books for learning. The five major themes were: (a) all students valued e-books, but nearly all students still prefer printed books; (b) e-books can enhance learning, but can hinder learning as well; (c) the impact of prior technological experience, knowledge, and confidence on learning and decision-making associated with e-books; (d) students preferred to use the given e-book to the given printed book; and (e) change to e-books recommended by students to better support learning. Research implications were drawn from the research findings for educators, students, developers of e-book readers, e-book authors, e-book publishers, and technology production companies. Implications could contribute to stakeholders’ understanding towards the root causes for students’ preference and reluctance to the use of e-books and the changes they need to see in e-books in order to use them more when they aim to learn. Finally, recommendations for future research were provided

Graduate Students\u27 Experiences and Attitudes Toward Using E-Books for College-Level Courses

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences and attitudes of graduate students toward the use of e-books for college-level courses. Seven students who pursued graduate studies at a midsize university in the Western United States volunteered to participate in semi-structured interviews. A theoretical lens comprised of three supporting learning theories (social constructivism, information processing, and self-efficacy theories) related to the constructivist learning approach was utilized to analyze the results and provide insight about students’ learning experiences with e-books. Students’ responses were categorized in four main areas: (a) they valued using e-books for social interactions and anytime/anywhere sharing and learning, (b) they indicated that e-books offer better information processing opportunities, (c) they expressed feelings of high self-efficacy and convenience, and (d) they indicated reasons of their negative perceptions and provided recommendations that could improve e-books to better support learning. Six out of seven students indicated their preference of using e-books over printed books. However, four out of these six students shifted their preference to printed books when asked if they preferred reading e-books for learning activities that required them to fully comprehend the information. Furthermore, this study provided discussion, limitations, and recommendations for future research

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods: The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results: NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion: As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population