Managing the Challenges Facing the Adoption of E-books: A Case of UKZN

The invention of the web and evolution of mobile technology has brought about changes in today's teaching and learning styles. They have also changed the dynamics of how resources such as study materials for students learning, are being disseminated. With these invention and evolution, study materials are now increasingly being disseminated in electronic format popularly referred to as eBook. E-books are gradually becoming the popular means of sharing learning information with students, and hence, they are becoming easy to access within most educational institutions. However, despite its benefits, studies have shown that students are facing challenges with regards to its adoption. This study was conducted to identify the challenges faced by students in the adoption of e-books. A quantitative research design was employed in the study; hence 250 questionnaires were distributed to students. The findings show that students prefer e-books due to their accessibility, cost effectiveness and ease of use. However, the findings also showed that digital rights, page navigation, poor screen presentation and resolution are some of the challenges students face in the adoption of e-books. The study concludes by proposing some possible means of managing the identified challenges.