Not Your Grandmother’s Textbooks…
The traditional view of “the textbook” as the central provider of course materials is dissipating at an unprecedented speed. Digital textbooks, however, are not simply a traditional textbook in a digitized format; they demand highly interactive content, which allows for a deeper levels of engagement. Built-in interactive contents are an integral part of this market. Interactive simulations, manipulative concepts to explain abstract or essential contents which are difficult to describe, and extra support for learners with special needs and/or processing difficulties are examples of the interactive nature of digital textbooks. Ultimately, the requirement of a participant’s active engagement defines interactive elements: content that delivers on the promise of active engagement (e.g. voting, clicking). In return for being actively engaged, participants receive immediate feedback and information, altering the textbook experience from a monologue to a dialogue (SnapApp, 2015): |