The digital textbook: new learning paradigms in primary education - a Portuguese pilot project

This chapter presents the preliminary results of a 3-year project on digital textbooks made available on a tablet, taking place in the Cuba school district of the Portuguese Alentejo region. The project involved two classes of seven graders. We will focus the analysis on student behavior and attitudes. The research draws upon a questionnaire whose goals were to evaluate the digital proficiency of students, to understand their perceptions, and to evaluate the project’s impact on learning and grades. Upon examination of the results, it becomes clear that students feel more motivated but this motivation does not correlate with grade improvement. Even at this preliminary stage, the research highlights the importance of a paradigm shift in the teaching process and the need to focus on acquiring skills rather than on improving grades.