e-Textbook Selection Criteria

(I) Content

1.

Conformity / Alignment with the curriculum aims and objectives in the curriculum guide

2.

Effectiveness of content to meet curriculum requirements irrespective of supplementary materials

3.

Accuracy and relevancy of data / information

4.

Accuracy, clarity and development of concepts

5.

Balance of depth and breadth

6.

Appropriate level of difficulty

7.

Smooth interface between key stages of learning / year levels

8.

Presence of multiple perspectives

9.

Absence of biased information / discrimination

10.

Inclusion of suggested references to facilitate consolidation and self-directed learning

(II) Learning and teaching

11.

Development of generic skills

12.

Development of cognitive skills of all levels, especially higher-order thinking skills

13.

Fostering positive values and attitudes

14.

Catering for student diversity

15.

Inclusion of learning activities essential to achieving the learning targets

16.

Facilitating students to integrate / practise / apply new knowledge

17.

Motivating students’ learning

18.

Clarity of instructions

19.

Variety and purposefulness of learning activities

20.

Inclusion of appropriate activities to facilitate assessment for learning and assessment as learning

(III) Structure and Organisation

21.

Logical organisation of content

22.

Use of table of contents and titles / headings / outlines

23.

Appropriate use of overviews, summaries and a student’s guide to facilitate learning

(IV) Language

24.

Quality of texts in terms of level of difficulty and support for independent reading and construction of meaning by students

25.

Coherence of text

26.

Opportunities to make good use of language to study the subject

27.

Use of familiar and interesting language

28.

Accuracy of language used

29.

Provision of support for understanding and using subject-specific vocabulary and expressions

(V) Pedagogical Use of e-Features

30.

Effective use of e-features for learning, teaching and assessment activities

31.

Appropriate and effective interactive activities and multimedia content

32.

Appropriate amount and sequencing of multimedia content and interactive activities

33.

Operational design of multimedia and interactive activities

34.

Use of learning tools

35.

Selection of key topics, glossary and hypertexts

(VI) Technical and Functional Requirements

36.

The e-textbook is compatible with common computer devices as well as operating systems and can be used with free-of-charge contemporary browsers or readers

37.

Consistent and appropriate interface and functions for navigation and search; provision of table of contents, index, hypertext and keyword search function

38.

Consistent and intuitive operation design and content to fit into one page for easy reading; no extra plug-in installation is required for playing video and audio clips

39.

Provision of learning tools such as annotation, note-taking, bookmarking, highlighting tools, free online dictionary, etc

40.

Users can download appropriate content for offline reading with free-of-charge browsers or readers

41.

Other e-features of the e-textbook as listed by the publisher function properly

(VII) e-textbook Price

(VIII) Other Criteria (please specify)

(IX) Overall Comments (if any)