This school test-drove an e-book initiative, and students are raving about it.  

As part of its three-year mobile learning initiative, Abilene Christian University provided its students with iPads – and, no surprise, the students got pretty attached to them by the end of the school year.

After using the devices, 75% of ACU freshman said they’d buy their own tablets if at least half their textbooks were available digitally.

But the popularity of the e-readers hasn’t yet translated to textbook sales. In 2010, digital books accounted for only 3% of textbook sales, according the National Association of College Stores.

One reason: poor-quality materials. Students couldn’t highlight or take notes on these pseudo e-books, which more closely resembled PDF files, and so no one bought them.

Recently, though, more educators are making the shift to digital e-books so students will more eagerly participate in assignments and improve their overall learning.

Major publishers like Inkling are focusing on the switch to digital text books to meet the increasing demand.

Here’s just how popular e-books are becoming:

• 20% of college students will possess iPads and other tablets by 2012, and
• Digital book sale growth will double to $1.5 billion by 2015, accounting for 25% of market share.

Has your school made the switch to digital e-books? Let us know, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

Tags: Abeline Christian University, e-books, iPads in schools, tablets in schools