An Evaluation on Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Textbooks

Abstract

Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate the compliance of ODE textbooks published by universities in and outside Turkey to textbook preparation criteria and identify the points that require improvement in those books. Methodology: A qualitative data analysis method known as document analysis was employed to achieve this. Using the convenience sampling method, the ODE textbooks published by 10 universities in and outside Turkey and were accessible online were determined as the sample of the study. The textbooks were evaluated based on the Open and Distance Education Textbook Evaluation Checklist, developed by a previous study. The checklist comprised 44 items distributed to four domains: individual learning, content, visual design, and language. Each item was scored based on the criterion's complete fulfillment, partial fulfillment, and non-fulfillment. Finding: The evaluation indicated that the textbooks showed good compliance to the criteria in terms of language and visual design while they needed improvement in the domains of individual learning and content, particularly in providing questions, examples, feedback sections, and in-text highlighting to improve the intelligibility of the content.