Preferences and Use of Digital and/or Printed Copies of Learning Resources by Students of a Coastal University in Ghana
- October 11, 2020
- Posted by: RSIS
- Categories: Education, IJRISS
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue IX, September 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186
Bernard Wiafe Akaadom (PhD)1, Florence Afua Takramah2 , Gloria Bless Anagbonu3
1,2,3Department of Mathematics and ICT Education, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
Abstract: In recent times, there has been an upsurge in the use of softcopy (digital) materials for learning especially among students on university campuses because digital devices abound. This has raised concerns of whether students now prefer the softcopies of learning resources to using hardcopies. This exploratory study therefore investigated the preferences of students (between softcopy and hardcopy materials) for reading. A descriptive survey was employed as the research design and questionnaires were used to gather data from respondents. Students from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana specifically, in their second to final years of some selected programmes were used in the survey. Data was analysed with the use of descriptive statistics. Despite the fact that students were observed to have more taste for their academic materials in electronic formats, the findings revealed that students preferred hardcopies to softcopies though they agreed that they make use of both depending on the situation. It was thus recommended that instructors should make course materials available in both digital and print formats for students to access for the studies.
Keywords: Hardcopy (printed materials), Softcopy (digital materials), digital devices, learning reosurces.
I. INTRODUCTION
The sale of electronic books is gradually taking over printed books on the internet (Woody, Daniel & Baker, 2010). Books and printed materials in the form of newspapers and journals formed the major repositories where information is obtained and where educational and personal developments took place. Apparently, the rapid change in the technological aspects of the world today caused a lot of transformation in the last few years. It seems that the ultimate goal is to ensure clients read from mobile gadgets which now come in various forms rather than printed books.
The idea of e-books started with electronic versions of books that usually already existed in print format. Currently, many e-books are produced originally as e-books which never existed in print format (Krajcik & Sutherland, 2010). Softcopy use has attracted a remarkable development in the use of e-learning in recent times and communication through the use of technology has attracted more attention because of easy access and its portability. When softcopy usage was first initiated in e-learning, it created interest among researchers and practitioners (Looi et. al., 2010). Many research educators have developed high expectation for softcopy use, because softcopy has made access to information and communication
