Exploring the influence of utilitarian, cognitive and affective factors on the use of e-books via handheld mobile devices: a review

Electronic books (e-books) can be read via dedicated e-book readers and multipurpose handheld mobile devices such as iPads and iPhones. Certain factors influence the use of academic e-books via these handheld mobile devices. The aim of this paper is to systematically review the factors which influence the use of e-books via handheld mobile devices for academic purposes in higher learning institutions. Two search strategies were used to identify the relevant literature of the studies reviewed. At the first stage, electronic databases and journals such as Emerald, Scopus, ProQuest, SpringLink, Science Direct, Wiley Online Library, Academic Search Premier, Communication and Mass Media Complete and Education Research Complete and ERIC were used to search for the relevant articles. Furthermore, journals pertaining to technology in education were searched individually to identify more relevant papers. The keywords used for the search were acceptance, adoption, use, electronic book, handheld mobile devices, e-reader, iPad, PDA and iPhone. At the second stage, snowballing method was used to identify the relevant articles by extracting them from the bibliography of key articles cited in this paper. An article was used for this review if it met three pre-determined criteria. The findings show that utilitarian, cognitive and affective factors influence the use of e-books via handheld mobile devices. However, not many articles explore the influence of affective factor on the use of academic e-books via handheld mobile devices. This systematic review is able to identify the main contributing factors that influence the use of e-books via handheld mobile devices. This review may guide e-book designers, publishers, aggregators and authors to develop e-books which are tailored to the consumers’ needs

Problem Based Learning in Mathematics

Research shows that the introduction of problem based learning (PBL) could foster student-centered learning, enhances students' abilities in learning, change their perception towards the subject matter and creates active learners.Although this approach has been applied in other disciplines, there is still lack of research focusing on the adoption of PBL approach in the Mathematics curriculum in countries such as Malaysia. Thus, this paper examines and summarizes some of the research conducted in the area of PBL in teaching and learning Mathematics and its effectiveness from students' perspective. The review shows PBL adoption in Mathematics is gaining positive feedbacks from students even though there are no convincing evidence to prove that PBL does in fact increase students' performance

Exploring And Understanding The Use Of Mobile E-Book Among Mathematics Postgraduate Students

This study aimed to explore and understand the mathematics postgraduate students‟ experience with mobile e-book. In particular this study presents appreciation of meaning and experience of mathematics postgraduate students in using the mobile e-book for their research activities.This study was guided by five research questions: (a) how do the mathematics postgraduate students use the mobile e-book?; (b) what are their main purposes of using the mobile e-book?; (c) what factors and how far these factors promote and hinder the use of the mobile e-book for learning activities; (d) how does the adoption of the mobile e-book affect the way the mathematics postgraduate students learn?; and (e) What are the information needed to develop guidelines to design future mobile e-book for the designers and academicians

Understanding the reasons that hinder mobile e-book use of university mathematics students

This study determined the issues related to usage of mathematics mobile e-book and how these issues affected the learning process of the participants. The study used qualitative case study design. Eight postgraduate Mathematics students from Abstract Algebra research group from a local public university in Malaysia were interviewed and observed. The data were analysed in terms of content analysis and descriptive analysis. The findings showed that, utilitarian, affective and cognitive reasons affected the learning activities of the participants negatively. It is concluded that, this study contributed in terms of expanding readers understanding on the reasons that demotivates the usage of mobile e-books and how it's dampen the learning process of the participants

E‐book utilization among mathematics students of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)

Purpose: The purpose of this preliminary study is to identify the e‐book utilization habit of postgraduate and undergraduate students from the Mathematics Department of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and to determine the reasons why students are feeling comfortable or uncomfortable with the e‐book services offered by the library and the role the librarians can play in solving the identified obstacles. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative approach which employs a face‐to‐face interview session was used to collect information on e‐book utilization habit and to capture perception of the e‐book services offered by UPM library. Findings: This research found that most of the participants use one common e‐book reading habit. Factors such as easy access reduce physical visits to the library and user‐friendly features offer a comfortable platform for the participant to use the mathematics e‐books. However, unreliable service, eye fatigue, lack of manipulability of online features and flaws in the physical design and insufficient e‐book collection cause the participants to feel uncomfortable with the service. Moreover, the role of librarians, publishers and interface designers is perceived to be an important remedy for all the inconvenience incurred. Research limitations/implications: Only 70 participants participated in this preliminary study. Furthermore, e‐books from a single publisher (SIAM) were used to collect data from the participants. Hence, the size of the population surveyed and usage of a single mathematics e‐book publisher placed certain limitations on the level of detail in which the data collected could be analysed and summarised. Practical implications: The study is important in terms of obtaining a better understanding of e‐book reading habits among mathematics students and the factors that cause them to feel comfortable and frustrated with the e‐book service offered by the library. Originality/value: This is believed to be the first published study of mathematics students' reading habits and their perception using e‐book in UPM

Extending physical multimedia learning with cognitive theory of multimedia learning

The research studied whether a physical multimedia designed in accordance with Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (CTML) enhances the learning performance of young children. Learning via touches addressed in digital technology has been increasingly emphasised in education nowadays. Hence, inquire into the efficacy of physical multimedia further extended with application of CTML potentially gives digital multimedia new contexts juxtaposing tactile quality and design principles. The research deployed multiple-group quasi-experimental factorial design contrasting physical multimedia and digital multimedia instructions. Children's achievement score was set as dependent variables. Incisive explanation of physical multimedia from its initial idea and conception, the way of development, how CTML was applied, until empirical experiment is described in this paper. The results suggest that physical multimedia solidified subjects' achievement scores more than digital multimedia

Utilization of e-book among University Mathematics Students

AbstractThis study aims to explore utilization pattern of e-book among mathematics students’ of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). This research adopts simple random sampling method to collect data. About 35 undergraduate students participated in this study. Based on the result, only 37.1% of the respondents have used e-book. Among the reasons given for using e-books are “available around the clock”, “searchable” and “allow easy navigation”. Those who have never used e-books stated that they are not familiar with the technology. The result shows that majority of the respondents like to use e-book for finding materials for their assignments