Electronic textbooks in Gauteng public schools : pros and cons

Abstract

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), a basic education department, is responsible for the management and administration of public educational institutions in the largest province in South Africa. The provision of learning and teaching support materials(LTSMs), including textbooks, is one of its core strategic obligations. GDE has introduced an information and communication technology (ICT) project through which schools are provided with LTSM in electronic format (e-LTSM). The first phase entailed the provision of smart-boards, laptops and tablets to grade 12 teachers and learners. This article addresses the research question on the envisaged advantages and disadvantages of electronic textbooks. A mixed method approach was utilised where 356 schools were selected to be given questionnaires and 35 schools would be interviewed. The theoretical framework applied was the technology acceptance model (TAM), with the focus on the perceived usefulness variable. The data analysis shows that the majority of schools regard the use of electronic textbooks as useful.