Designing Open Textbooks for Effective Teaching and Learning

Abstract

Printed textbooks are often criticized for only 'transmitting' knowledge to readers in a linear fashion whereas in e-textbooks, interactivity can be built in; so learners are 'connected' with other resources. There are e-tools for learners to communicate with the teacher and their peers, and they can also support individualization in the learning process. Here we will need appropriate design elements in language usage, conceptual organization, spatial arrangement and levels of interactions. Electronic textbook content in various file formats (e.g. web, PDF, e-Pub, audio) can be used in different devices to suit learners' reading preferences. Open textbooks on the other hand, allow teachers to reuse, revise and remix the content. Linking to a repository of learning assessment items, an open textbook can also provide effective assessment of learning outcomes, an important requirement in Hong Kong schools. The paper first describes how an open textbook system for Hong Kong comes to fruition. It will then discuss in detail the pedagogical, quality assurance and technological considerations in the development of the open textbooks. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.