The Adoption of Tablet and e-Textbooks: first grade core curriculum and school administration attitude

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of using e-textbooks, activities, games, and worksheets that loaded onto students tablets on first grade students’ achievement on their core curriculum (science, math, English, Arabic) compared to the use of the traditional teaching method. It also, investigated the school administration reflection toward the use of Tablet as a teaching tool. The study used a quasi-experimental control group design. The study sample was formed of (80) male and female first grade students who are studying at one private school in the city of Irbid-Jordan, during the first semester of the scholastic year 2014/2015.  An open interview was conducted with the school principle and the principle assistants. A selected software and e-textbook for students’ core curriculum were saved on each student’s tablet. Participants of the study were divided into two groups: the control groups (40 students) were taught using the traditional textbook, and the experimental group (40 students) was taught using Tablet.  Both groups had given a pre-test and a post-test to measure their achievements in their core subjects. The motive for this research was to move from using traditional teaching tools to use tablet as a new teaching tool that can deliver class materials to improve learning outcomes.  The result of the study showed that using e-textbook as a teaching tool had improved students learning and motivated them. School administration reported that using e-textbook on teaching was a good idea. Keywords: core curriculum, tablets, e-learning, elementary education, educational technology, school administration