Proximity of Equations, Text, and Figures in Civil Engineering E-

Textbooks

Paul W. Richards

Brigham Young University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Electronic Textbooks Are Being Pushed

Are Electronic Textbooks As Effective as Printed?

Daniel, D. B., and Woody, W. D. (2013). "E-textbooks at What Cost? Performance and Use of Electronic vs. Print Texts." Computers & Education, 62(0), 18-23.

• No significant difference in learning • Electronic formats take longer to read

How Are Engineering Textbooks Different?

Hibbeler, R.C. Engineering Mechanics: Statics

Myers, D.G. Psychology. Seventh Ed.

Proximity

How Does Proximity Impact Learning?

Mayer, R.E., et al., A Generative Theory of Textbook Design: Using Annotated Illustrations to Foster Meaningful Learning of Science Text. Educational Technology Research and Development, 1995. 43(1): p. 31-43.

What Happens to Proximity in Engineering E-Textbooks?

Printed Spread

Even Page Odd Page

Now not proximate

Now not proximate

Odd Page

Textbooks Used for Study

Results for Printed Books

Proximity of Referenced Objects (%)

Author Same Page Facing Page Same Spread

Segui 50 16 66

McCormac 50 17 67

Geschwindner 33 16 49

Salmon and Johnson 46 27 72

All 45 19 63

• These results can be used to infer proximity in PDF versions viewed one page, rather than one spread, at a time.

• Flowable-text versions have much lower proximity with some approaching 0%.

Returning to the Ideal

“… page after page of Leonardo’s manuscripts have a gentle but thorough integration of text and figure, a quality rarely seen in modern work.”

Edward Tufte

Conclusions and Recommendations

• Proximity matters in scientific texts.• Electronic textbooks have poor proximity

(50% or worse).• Current-generation e-textbooks in science

and engineering should not be pushed.