VText: A Plug-in Extension to Add Electronic Textbook Functionality to Microsoft OneNote

Electronic textbooks are different from ebooks (electronic books) in that they allow the user to go beyond just reading material on a computer screen. Electronic textbooks encourage the user to accomplish all of the operations typically performed with a hardcopy text in addition to some functions not possible with paper books. With electronic textbooks users can make annotations in the textbook with e-ink; mark important sections; search over the ink, the text, or even the scanned images; look up items in online dictionaries or encyclopedias; perform interactive reinforcement drills; view simulations; and many other operations afforded by the computing power of the underlying computer and the reach of the Internet connection. These operations encourage students to engage in active reading. The VText framework is designed to provide many of the desired features of an e-textbook in such a way that it produces pedagogical value rather than just convenience for students. Many so-called e-textbook solutions available today provide few features beyond those possible with hardcopy textbooks. The VText framework is built as an add-in to Microsoft's note-taking program, OneNote. The add-in provides features that facilitate the use of OneNote as a reader and as an educational tool while leaving in place OneNote's strengths in note-taking, collaboration, and search.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Computer Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Cristy, John Oliver

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Tront, Joseph G.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Abbott, A. Lynn
• Shaffer, Clifford A.

• Tablet
• Electronic Textbook
• Active Learning
• Microsoft OneNote

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:1900

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/25154