A Study On The E-textbook Using By English Majors In Universities

E-textbook is a new type of teaching material. It has been over ten years since e-textbook was introduced to our country. But reviewing the previous studies on e-textbook, the writer finds that most of them are just confined to the K12 education and the attention paid to the e-textbook using in higher education is far from satisfaction. Therefore, in the background of e-learning, adopting the research method by questionnaire and interview and supported by constructivist learning theory, the writer carries out the investigation aiming to study the e-textbook using among English majors in a university in Zhejiang Province.The participants of this thesis consist of the English majors coming from three grades, to be specific, freshmen, sophomore students and junior students. The number and the proportion of gender of the chosen students within each grade are under the same control. Then according to the general rule of an investigation, namely, what, why and how, this thesis puts forward three research questions accordingly. Firstly, what is the current situation of e-textbook using by English majors in universities? Secondly, what are the factors influencing the using of e-textbook by English majors in universities? Thirdly, how can we improve the e-textbook using among English majors in universities?This thesis combines questionnaire and interview, based on which, the collected data are analyzed and discussed and the final conclusions are achieved so as to find out reasonable answers to the research questions. Firstly, as for the e-textbook using among English majors, the writer finds that participants cognition of the concept of e-textbook is vague, besides, the updating of e-textbook arouses little attention among them. From the perspective of practical learning experiences, English majors who have been exposed to e-textbook at school before only occupy a small number, still and all, e-textbook using is still insufficient and limited in their present English learning experiences. Although e-textbook using among English majors is far from satisfaction, their strong enthusiasm and interests in it is comforting,The reasons resulting to the present e-textbook using come to light after the writer analyzes the data carefully. The following findings are the final results abstracted from the data. To begin with, the fundamental reason lies in the backwardness of educational ideas. In the background of e-learning, educational ideas are getting refreshed all the time so as to keep pace with the time. Consequently, the one-way output pattern in the traditional class can be no more meet the requirements of the modern teaching ideas. On the contrary, the interactive pattern supplied by e-textbook, undoubtedly reflect the objectives of the new curriculum reform. Therefore, reforming the textbook pattern is an overwhelming trend in the long run. However, referring to the results, the writer finds that the reliance of both students and teachers on traditional textbooks makes it hard for the reform, secondly, the popularity of e-textbook means a large expenditure in some way, which makes many universities hesitate, last but not the least, e-textbook market pays less attention to the higher education than it is supposed to, and the market should balance its attention to the K12 education and higher education instead of making a fish of one and flesh of another.Based on the previous analysis, the writer reaches some conclusions to improve it accordingly. First of all, English majors and faculty need to enhance the attention to the overwhelming trend of textbook reform and try to accept it. On the part of universities, urgent measures must be taken to expand expenditure for relevant equipment and develop curriculum of skill training. Thirdly, the e-textbook market should balance its attention to the K12 education and higher education and pay more attention to the latter field.