Survey: College Students Relying More on Digital Materials

New Research Shows that Digital Textbook Usage and Device Ownership Have Increased Dramatically.

CourseSmart®, a leading Educational Services Platform and the world’s largest provider of digital course materials, today announced the results of it’s third annual survey revealing the digital habits of today’s college students. Fielded by Wakefield Research, an independent research consultancy, the survey of more than 500 currently enrolled college students found significant increases in students’ overall reliance on technology as a means to improve their academic productivity and performance, especially their use of mobile devices to access course materials on the go. The survey also highlights the impact of student debt on the school, career and lifestyle choices of today’s financially burdened students.

“We are continuing to see the positive potential of technology to increase access, lower costs and improve outcomes in higher education,” said Sean Devine, CEO of CourseSmart. “The results of this survey underscore just how much students have embraced mobile devices and digital course materials to enhance their productivity, efficiency and performance, all of which impact students’ educational success and financial prospects in this highly competitive, globally connected world.”

Key findings of the survey include:
Diverse Devices, Digital Dependency:
Almost all (99%) students surveyed reported having at least one digital device, and while laptops were the most common (93%), many students now own smart phones (78%) and tablets (35%). This is a significant increase from our 2011 survey when only 47% of students said they owned a smart phone and 7% reported owning a tablet. Further results in this area include:

• A majority (68%) of students use three or more devices every day
• 47% of students say they check their devices every 10 minutes, up from 38% of students in 2011
• 59% of students say they are more likely to bring a laptop or tablet to class while only 41% prefer to bring a textbook

Studying Smarter, Saving Time
Almost all students surveyed (90%) admitted they don’t always complete the required reading in time for class. Of those students, a majority (53%) report they would be more likely to complete that reading if the material was available digitally and could be viewed on mobile devices. That number increased from 46% of students surveyed in 2011, showing that students are becoming increasingly more comfortable with consuming materials on mobile devices. Further results in this area include:

• 88% of students say they have used a mobile device for last minute studying before a test, up from 79% of students surveyed in 2012
• 79% of students felt that technology such as mobile devices, digital textbooks, e-readers and tablets saved them time when studying and learning
◦ Of those students, 64% say technology saves them two or more hours every day

The Cost Conundrum: Choices and Compromises
In addition to devices, students have another thing on their mind – the growing cost of higher education – as almost half of students surveyed (49%) said they decided not to attend an institution after being selected because the cost was too high. However, students are accepting they might have some student loan debt with a strong majority (72%) saying they would rather have a full time job than be debt-free. Further results in this area include:

• 72% of students recalled having a discussion about financing their college education
• The potential for student debt was a factor for 78% of students when selecting a college or university to attend
• When asked what will be impacted by student loan debt, 61% of students indicated where they live, 56% named the type of job sought with 46% citing the number of jobs they work post graduation and 44% saying student loan debt would impact their decision to attend graduate school

Textbooks Move from Print to Pixels
eTextbook usage is growing quickly with 79% of students saying they have used an eTextbook, up from 63% in 2011. This increased usage may be due to the fact that professors are increasingly touting the benefits of digital course materials. In fact, 84% of the students surveyed have had a professor recommend the purchase of an eTextbook and 52% of students said professors frequently recommend eTextbooks, which is up from only 42% in 2012. Further results in this area include:

• 66% of students use eTextbooks frequently, as compared to only 43% of students in 2011
• 17% of students said they think only eTextbooks will be used in 10 years and 55% predicted that eTexbook usage would outweigh print
• Only 7% of students expected print textbooks to remain dominant

Frankfurt Book Fair 2015 to honor Indonesia

The Frankfurt Book Fair is the biggest book and media fair in the world – with around 7,300 exhibitors from around 100 countries. 

In 2015 the Frankfurt Book Fair will present “the vibrant literature, talents and the rich culture of one of the most populous and ‘young’ countries in the world”, says Director of Frankfurt Book Fair, Juergen Boos.

With an expanding education sector, the Indonesian government has spent 20% of its national budget on education, also investing in digital textbooks since 2003. In 2011 this amounted to a sum of 21.5 billion Euros. The Indonesian economy presented a growth rate of 6.5% in 2012.

Indonesian literature looks on a grand tradition of oral storytelling, an expressive tradition of poetry, and also has great prose literature in its repertoire. One of the most well-known Indonesian authors is Pramoedya Ananta Toer (1925-2006). He was awarded the PEN Freedom Award and published more than 30 works which were translated into at least 20 languages. Pramoedya Ananta Toer was also high on the list of the candidates for the Nobel Prize for Literature. Ayu Utami whose novel “Saman” was published in 2007 represents a generation of young authors from his country. 

There are about 1000 active publishing houses in Indonesia and more than 260 of their publications have been translated into the English Language altogether.

Noam Chomsky - The Purpose of Education

Noam Chomsky discusses the purpose of education, impact of technology, whether education should be perceived as a cost or an investment and the value of standardized assessment.

An overview of Libraries in the Gulf States

by Shaikha Mohamed Ahmed Al Muhairi

Books and reading are highly respected within the Arab states, even if they are not always a visible part of daily life there. The first word revealed in the Holy Quran was Iqra’ (“read”), and literate and learned people in the Arab Gulf before the discovery of oil were esteemed members of society whose personal libraries benefitted their small communities. In the era of modern nation-states, the state began to establish public libraries, while others were set up by various government entities and private companies. Every new public and private school contained a library. 

The educational and cultural movement gained momentum from the 1960s through 1980s and then plateaued for a while. Libraries became known simply as quiet, organised places for book storage, and seemed out of place within the increased dynamism of the urban centres in the Arab Gulf. Currently, though, there seems to be a strong cultural revival region-wide, and libraries are part of that. Public libraries are spreading. Universities and research centres have extensive libraries that offer resources related to their areas of specialisation. Alongside these changes, the publishing industry has started to flourish as well, although in many countries it is still at an infancy stage.

The information specialist struggling with lack of information

One area that seems lacking in this current picture is the information that connects libraries to the Arab publishing world. Publishers’ associations and other organisations that deal in books have yet to provide proper platforms for the public, and specifically for librarians, to obtain information about books (see interview on metadata p. 9) . There exist almost no trade publications or online databases that provide such information. Book reviews are almost unheard of, although sometimes a culture page in a newspaper or a specialised literary magazine will offer reviews, primarily focused on fiction and critical works about poetry and fiction. 

One of the best websites is Masarat by Al Bayan newspaper in the UAE, which covers a wide range of subjects. There are a couple of good online bookstores but customers by and large have not appeared interested in posting book reviews. There is a plethora of free e-book websites and many applications that can be downloaded on smart phone platforms, but many publishers’ websites that provide lists of books do not include reviews with them, and even books that have won awards are often not easy to find. There are few online directories of publishers, and what sites do exist usually tend towards the commercial side and are not consistently updated.

In Focus: Specialised Libraries 

The main areas of interest for academic libraries revolve around the specialised subjects taught at each university, with a priority put on books for English language learners. Academic libraries, especially in the UAE, have been at the forefront of developing technology and systems through which to acquire books. Libraries subscribe to trade journals, usually in English, and ask their professors for input regarding the information resources required, as well as relying on vendors for pre-catalogued English titles. EFL and ESL teachers can be part of the library staff in many instances. Drawing upon publishers’ catalogues, they make book and audio-visual selections for English language learners, such as graded readers. Most universities in the UAE have an 80 percent to 20 percent ratio of English to Arabic book purchases, excluding Islamic and Arabic-language universities, of which there are few. Qatar and Oman also rely heavily on English; the other GCC states are more interested in Arabic materials but English is still an important language for them, too. There is much less demand for materials in other languages, except at universities that operate in that language such as the Sorbonne in Abu Dhabi, or in foreign language departments. Academic libraries have been using subject-oriented electronic databases for a long time. 

When universities in Abu Dhabi receive grants to buy books from local book fairs, they usually focus on acquiring Arabic materials. Librarians at universities attend local and international conferences and are connected through unofficial librarian networks.

Government schools have core book collections that are often a bit on the old side. Sometimes the Education Council, the Education Zone, or the Ministry of Education will buy books in bulk for school libraries. In other instances librarians will rely on small funds to purchase books from book fairs. Private schools develop their collections depending on their own particular policies. School libraries in most cases have an equal ratio of English to Arabic books, except in private schools where English is prominent or foreign-language community schools such as those taught in German or Japanese. Books purchased focus on curriculum support first and on reading promotion second. School libraries have a great potential for growth that has not yet been realised because of a lack of librarian training and a lack of information provided to librarians regarding books and services.

Corporate libraries rely heavily on English. Decision-making is based on corporate needs and standards, and in most cases English is the business language of the UAE—the opposite of what is the case in most of the other Gulf states. Corporate librarians rely mostly on book fairs and trade publications to acquire books.

Professional associations and networks 

Librarians in the region have very few venues in which to meet. The only region-wide event for librarians is the Special Libraries Association Arabian Gulf Chapter (SLA AGC), which organizes an annual conference. Another network is the UAE-based Information Literacy Network, an informal forum for librarians interested in sharing resources and enhancing information literacy skills for the workplace. Both conferences have exhibits, and some publishers and library vendors contribute to the conferences proceedings. Another networking group in the UAE is Abu Dhabi Librarians, which consists of a mailing list organised by one librarian and which holds gatherings and other activities, some of them vendor initiated.

Librarians in the Gulf are eager to get their hands on books. The provision of extensive, high-quality information on Arabic books is long overdue. Workshops and gatherings to provide librarians with resources for book selection would be a good place to start. Online Arabic book directories need institutional support. Currently book fairs seem to be the most popular places to get books in the Gulf region. More information provided about the kinds of books available to librarians would be of great benefit, especially if combined with information sessions, special events, and professional development opportunities.

Shaikha Mohamed Ahmed Al Mehairi is Head of Library Services at the National Library Abu Dhabi.

The way we learn is changing

The Middle East is slowly but surely rising as a knowledge economy and at the same time embracing changes in the education sector.

This year’s Abu Dhabi International Book Fair was an indicator of the forthcoming trends in the education field. For the first time the exhibition sported an e-zone and although there were only 10 stalls it was clear that every aspect of digital education and e-learning was covered. From library supplies to ebook platforms, educational animation videos and kids e-learning programs for schools; these stalls represented the coming change in educating our next generations.

18 year old Afira Chisty who is a student at The Lyceum School in Karachi shares how use of ebooks and digital softwares has helped in her education. She says, "Use of ebooks help  save us time in searching for the book related  or the hassle of flipping through pages trying to find the  relevant chapter. On the other hand we also have video calls organized by the school to conduct day-to-day lectures, guest lectures, and also to conduct society meetings. Being a student, it counts as a privilege to work with experienced and talented teachers and mentors from across the globe while sitting in Karachi."

Let’s take a look at what innovative ways of teaching are making its way into this sector.

Social Media:

Presence of social media seems to have increased dramatically in the education sector. Facebook is largely being used for education and discussion groups, blogs for thesis and project submissions as well as twitter and other platforms for creating an all round social presence which is used as a marking point for media students especially.

Fadi Salem, Director of the Governance and Innovation Programme at the Dubai School of Government told the Khaleej Times “The emergence of new concepts like ‘social learning’, ‘intelligent decision making networks’ and ‘massive open online courses’, is enabling educators, students and educational institutions to rely on social media tools.”

Interactive learning:

Interactive learning has been a proven methodology for years. But its application has changed drastically. Babies and kids pick up new things through interactive and one-on-one learning. For some reason our education systems slipped in to a limbo of one way interaction with students subjected to teacher monologues.

A lot of that is now changing with a healthy dose of interaction. Be it educational games on tablets and computers for kids or learning modules with user input tests at the end; this is a proven method of enhancing the growth trajectory more effectively.

Online courses:

Since not everyone has the funds, time or opportunity to attend college or do a master’s degree over a 2-3 year dedicated period; online courses have sprung up as a saving grace.

It has become a popular choice with full time professionals as well as those who don’t want to actually travel to another country to study. A number of Universities in the GCC have also turned to this option making distant learning an added source of intake.

Not a new concept but the method of instruction and material sharing has definitely become more easy and effective. Instead of downloading pre recorded videos and power point presentations, the new concept is to conduct online live classes in terms of a conference and then share a list of ebooks available in the college’s library. We’ve yet to see the best of this come.

Game based learning (GBL):

Learning with the help of games is a new thing especially with schools in the West. However, one can say with some surety that this trend will spread to the rest of the world as well if resources permit simply because it’s proven as educative and engaging.

We aren’t saying get your students to play Need For Speed or the likes but a number of education institutions have picked up on the Wii games and similar products that add to classroom instruction. It gives the students a chance to put theory to practice while having some fun!

In essence, one might argue why the big domination of digital gadgets and platforms that could easily prove to be a distraction instead, but the point remains teaching has now moved to a medium the next gen is much more comfortable with.


Also see articles on Best Apps for Teaching and America's Maker movement to revolutionize learning