A Cognitive Ergonomics Design Framework for Future Electronic Textbooks

Kimberly Anne Sheen (2018)

Many universities are shifting from the use of physical textbooks to electronic textbooks. Yet, there is a lack of research that examines whether this type of textbook can meet students’ task requirements. Within the context of Engineering and Design disciplines, this research investigates: (1) the role of student characteristics in the perception of future electronic textbooks; (2) the supporting tasks that students perform whilst reading both types of textbooks and how they differ; (3) the crucial aspects and components for future electronic textbooks; (4) the discrepancies between students and professors’ perceptions, and (5) the necessary changes that need to be made based on the above needs and desires and the required changes based on these needs and desires. Utilising the findings from a survey and the result of the Hexagon-Spindle Model, this study proposes a framework that serves as a guide for designers and content creators to design future electronic textbooks that meet students’ academic reading task needs and grow with technological advances.