Using electronic textbooks: promoting, placing and embedding

Purpose - The paper illustrates the experiences of both academic and support staff in the use of electronic books within a higher education setting. The case studies report upon practice at Edge Hill College of Higher Education, which has allowed for successful e-book development strategies to be employed in teaching and learning within the college. The paper will deal particularly with e-book marketing, implementation and evaluation strategies, as well as embedding e-books into virtual learning environments (VLEs). Design/methodology/approach - The paper reports upon two significant chapters within e-book development at the college. The first of these is an initial evaluative e-book research project, from which strategy and policy were formulated. The second part of the paper introduces case studies in which the findings of the initial research impact upon the embedding of e-books into teaching and learning and subsequently into the college's VLE. Findings - User evaluations provide qualitative analytic data into the benefits and disadvantages of using e-books in higher education teaching and learning activity. Research limitations/implications - The findings are limited to one particular higher education institution and specific curriculum areas within. Originality/value - The evaluative data, as well as particular e-book strategies identified, make the paper of value to those researching e-book usage and activity, in particular within online learning.