The e-textbook pilot is a collaboration between Information Technology and the Faculty of Law which will offer e-textbooks as an option for first year students in one or more of their modules and extended to the postgraduate programme in Public and Development Management at SPL. The introduction of e-textbooks will allows us to explore the strength and weaknesses of the e-reader technology and to determine the usefulness of the technology in the classroom.

Students require flexible mechanisms to have access to their academic resources, access to learning managements system, library resources and any academic or information resources is a requirement for on or off campus. The goals of the e-textbook pilot with the Law Faculty and School of Public Leadership (SPL) are:

· Explore the current strengths and weaknesses of the e-reader technology
· To determine the usefulness of this technology in the classroom
· Reduce the high cost of traditional textbooks and increase the attractiveness of e-textbooks
· Evaluate the availability of the e-textbook resource on more than one device
· Increase the usage of the required e-textbooks through institutional purchase.

The drivers for the pilot of e-textbooks include the electronic delivery of course material as a possible replacement of traditional printed textbooks, the adoption of e-reader technology as part of the curriculum renewal and meeting the technology expectations of the knowledge economy.

Are you involved in any e-book initiatives on campus? Share your story with us by sending an e-mail tobits.bytes@sun.ac.za.