"The author discusses the transition from using printed books to ebooks in education, and how the design of user interfaces (UI) for displaying those ebooks affects learning. ... Some of the book's glossary definitions and references can be useful for students and scholars who are doing research on technology in education, learning management systems, e-learning, and related areas. ... Overall, the book includes important references and glossary definitions." (Miguel A. Garcia-Ruiz, Computing Reviews, February, 2017)
Dr. Elena Railean is a researcher and lecturer in the field of applied learning theory and design. She was graduated in 1987 from the State University of Moldova. In 2012, she was awarded her PhD on the topic of psychopedagogical fundaments of digital textbook (published as Psychopedagogical bases of electronic textbook development, by LUMEN in 2015 as an award of Minister of National Education, Romania). She conducted Erasmus IANUS postdoctoral project ‘Learning theory and metacognitive strategies’. Through her postdoctoral studies, Elena Railean has been actively involved in various scientific activities, such as Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology (2014); Handbook of Research on Pedagogical Innovations for Sustainable Development (2014); COST expert (since 2015); Scientific Committee of International Conference on Sciences of Education ICSED 2015 and others. She has been an associate editor of eLearning Romania since 2014, Problems of Education in the 21st Century (2015), Excellence in Research and Innovation for Humanity (2015), and others. The usefulness of proposed book to the reader is based on interdisciplinary area of educational technology, pedagogy, learning theories, instructional design, including digital textbook.
This book is a synthesis of the complex interdependencies between user interface design of digital screen and learning process. It is analyzed the impact of digital revolution on learning, phases of digital textbooks use and development; specific features of educational system & learning environment; psycho-pedagogical characteristics of XXI students; user interface design topology; user interface design features of digital textbooks in accordance with human thinking paradigms; critical thinking of user interfaces and content (linear, systems, global and metasystems design approach). One special chapter describes innovative organizational forms of learning with digital textbooks.
Metasystems learning design of digital textbooks will be of particular interest to the readers because this is an innovative approach of learning design, which proved the experimental data of the instructional dynamic and flexible strategy. It proved the practical application of didactical model of digital textbooks for chemistry and mathematics. The main benefits for reader refers on understanding the applicability of metasystems learning design for digital textbook use and development, in particular for STEM education. It takes more than analysis to help readers overcome the impact of user interface design of digital textbook on learning outcomes.