Examining Student Course Outcomes in First Year Anatomy and Physiology Using E-Books Versus Traditional Textbooks

Over the last several years, use of e-books in higher education has increased significantly and is projected to continue through the next decade. Institutions of higher learning have implemented use of e-books without any data that verified the impact on student learning outcomes. The purpose of this ex post facto, quantitative study was to compare student learning outcomes in Human Anatomy and Physiology I courses using e-books versus using traditional textbooks at a two-year public community college in South Texas. With a participant population of 686 students, data were analyzed by their final grades comparing the differences between those who used an e-book with those who used traditional textbooks. Analysis of the data indicated that student learning outcomes (success) in Human Anatomy and Physiology I were independent of the type of book used. Whether students used a traditional textbook or an e-book, no significant difference was found for student learning outcomes (success). Student learning outcomes in Human Anatomy and Physiology were at the same level for students using e-books because of built-in features of the books. These features, which have been termed the e-book effect by this author, combine aspects of constructivist, social constructivist, and active learning that allowed a student to progress through Bloom’s Taxonomy to gain mastery of the subject matter

Water Security for Texas: A Post-Secondary Education Pathway for the Water Workforce

Water and wastewater industry leaders in Texas and throughout the United States have expressed concern over high rates of retirement eligibility and difficulties finding and attracting workers ready to fill job openings, especially for work in smaller systems. In late January 2018, the U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report on water workforce readiness and a bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate to establish a water infrastructure workforce development program. Concern over existing education of workers in water and demographic information projecting future workforce readiness are commonly cited as signaling a coming crisis for the water industry. An alignment of post-secondary training and industry needs is recommended to meet coming workforce employment requirements for Texas and the nation. A model post-secondary education pathway for water science and technology is described to support water workforce readiness

Water security for Texas: a post-secondary education pathway for water workforce readiness

Water and wastewater industry leaders in Texas and throughout the United States have expressed concern over high rates of retirement eligibility and difficulties finding and attracting workers ready to fill job openings, especially for work in smaller systems. In late January 2018, the U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report on water workforce readiness and a bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate to establish a water infrastructure workforce development program. Concern over existing education of workers in water and demographic information projecting future workforce readiness are commonly cited as signaling a coming crisis for the water industry. An alignment of post-secondary training and industry needs is recommended to meet coming workforce employment requirements for Texas and the nation. A model post-secondary education pathway for water science and technology is described to support water workforce readiness. Citation: Rosen RA, Cifuentes LA, Fischer J, Marquise H, Tracy JC. 2018. Water security for Texas: a post-secondary education pathway for water workforce readiness. Texas Water Journal. 9(1):120-128. Available from: https://doi.org/10.21423/twj.v9i1.7078