New APUS Student Survey Finds Most Prefer a Combination of Print and Electronic Course Materials
Reading comfort and accessibility most significant criteria despite digital trend, according to annual poll
Charles Town, WV, January 5, 2012—American Public University System (APUS) today announced that most of its students responding to an annual survey continue to prefer a combination of print and electronic course materials, despite their increasing acceptance and usage of digital media.
“APUS has always placed a keen focus on student engagement, and this survey is a logical outgrowth of that focus -- to better determine how our students like to learn and access information,” said Dr. Fred Stielow, vice president and dean of library services. “Quality in the classroom and adapting to evolving forms of Web-based teaching remain paramount, but we also struggle with rising textbook costs. Fortunately, our latest data indicates an even more sophisticated and web-savvy populace than last year.”
Key survey findings include the following:
- Over 28 percent of respondents said that they are comfortable reading e-textbooks, digital articles and online lectures on a computer screen, a nearly 50 percent increase over 2010.
- Nearly 60 percent noted it “extremely important” that course materials be readily available online, while a similar percentage said materials should be downloadable to their computer.
- About 26 percent said they would use digital course materials exclusively, a nearly 50 percent increase over 2010.
The comprehensive survey of nearly 6,000 APUS undergraduates, coincides with the recent launch of APUS ePress, a new digital publishing initiative designed to leverage public and proprietary course materials in response to textbook cost inflation.
About American Public University System
American Public University System, winner of the Sloan Consortium’s 2009 Ralph E. Gomory Award for Quality Online Education, and two-time recipient of Sloan’s Effective Practices Award, offers 87 online degree programs through American Public University and American Military University. APUS’s relevant curriculum, affordability and flexibility help more than 100,000 working adults globally pursue degrees in subjects ranging from homeland security to management and liberal arts. For further information* on APUS, please visit www.apus.edu
*For more about APUS programs, including the graduation rates for each program, median debt of students completing each program, and other important information -- visit www.APUS.edu/disclosure.
Contact:
Tiffany Young
American Public University System
tyoung@apus.edu
703.334.3264