CourseSmart, an American company founded in 2007, is the world’s largest provider of eTextbooks and education digital content. They hold 90% of the core higher education textbooks that are used in the US in digital format (CourseSmart,2012). In early 2012 CourseSmart launched in the UK (Pearson,2012) and has made a swift expansion since it was introduced.
April 2012
In April this year, CourseSmart introduced their new e-Reader which offers ‘enhanced user experience for accessing digital textbooks and course material’ (Reid, 2012). The machine is a cloud-based browser which offers a better learning environment and facilities including ‘faster page loading, stream-lined navigation, better highlighting, notes and annotations, improved search and the ability to easily index a complete listing of all notes and annotations’ (Reid, 2012). The e-Reader was the product of faculty and student feedback on what would improve their learning. The device has been designed for easy access to the user’s textbook content through other devices when they are both online and offline.
As a student this e-Reader seems like a great idea. You are able to access your course materials and are able to make revision notes without the need of a pen and paper. CourseSmart has taken a lot of care in developing this device as they have taken into consideration the needs of both students and faculty for improving their education. However I do think that to entice more customers and make it accessible to everyone they should develop a software so people who use CourseSmart can access their digital content on their laptop and are able to have facilities that are currently only available on the e-Reader.
August 2012
In August, CourseSmart partnered with Blackwell’s to sell their eTextbooks and resources through Blackwell’s high street stores and website. The bookseller who specialises in academic publishing and has stores in UK university campuses will offer rental eTextbooks for 180 days or one year for up 50% off the R.R.P of a printed textbook. (Campbell, 2012B) (Publishers Weekly, 2012B)
This is an ideal partnership as Blackwell’s is in the heart of higher education book selling. With Blackwell’s having stores within university grounds, CourseSmart are able to access their demographic easily and through a trusted company that is Blackwell’s. Again, talking as a student, there isn’t anything worse than having to purchase an expensive textbook that you probably only need for one or two semesters. Being able to rent an eTextbook for six months or a year at a discounted price, for a student is a great luxury.
September 2012
Up until September CourseSmart had five founding publishers that were willing to have their education publications available for rent; these publishers include Pearson, Wiley, Macmillan, McGrew-Hill and Cengage. Now eight more publishers are onboard, widening their available resources to students. These well known and large publishers include ‘Sage, Taylor & Francis, Edinburgh University Press, Jessica Kingsley, Gill & Macmillan, CAB International, Goodfellow Publishing and W W Norton’ (Campbell, 2012A).
With more publishers on board, CourseSmart can only get more successful. Their business will expand due to the larger number of eTextbooks that they can offer to their consumers. Having more publishers on board can only bring good things to CourseSmart.
November 2012
Most recently CourseSmart has expanded their business out of Europe and into the Middle East and some parts of Africa. This means that their content and resources will be available in over 70 countries and available for students and educational staff to access their materials worldwide. At the moment products will be sold in pounds sterling but future plans are to sell them in local currencies (Booktrade.info, 2012).
Again this can only bring success to the company. CourseSmart have created a wider platform for students and staff to access their course materials, allowing greater accessibility and ease of use; both attractive qualities for potential customers.
CourseSmart’s expansion over the last year has been a rapid one and a successful one. They are making business with companies that are respected and well known, this is beneficial for CourseSmart as they will be associated with their partnered companies good name. To me their new ventures will only bring them success as they have partnered with the right companies and made their product a more attractive one to buy.
Word Count: 709
Book2Book (2012). CourseSmart expands availability to more countries and launches Free Trial. Available at: http://www.booktrade.info/index.php/showarticle/43859 Accessed on: 17/11/2012 Campbell, L. (2012A). Eight more publishers join CourseSmart. The Bookseller, 14 September. [online] Available at: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/eight-more-publishers-join-coursesmart.html Accessed on: 17/11/2012
Campbell, L. (2012B). CourseSmart and Blackwell’s Link up. The Bookseller, 9 August. [online] Available at: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/coursesmart-and-blackwell%E2%80%99s-link.html Accessed on: 17/11/2012
CourseSmart (2012). About CourseSmart- Overview. Available at: http://www.coursesmart.co.uk/overview Accessed on: 17/11/2012
Pearson (2012). CourseSmart launches in UK. Availabe at: http://www.pearsoned.co.uk/AboutUs/Pressreleases/Latestreleases/Text,12481,en.asp Accessed on: 17/11/2012
Publisher’s Weekly (2012A). CourseSmart partners with Blackwell’s. Available at: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/retailing/article/53489-coursesmart-partners-with-blackwell-s.html Accessed on: 17/11/2012
Publisher’s Weekly (2012B). CourseSmart Expands to the Middle East, Africa. Available at: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/54747-coursesmart-expands-to-the-middle-east-africa.html Accessed on:17/11/2012
Reid,C. (2012). CourseSmart upgrades Cloud-based Textbook e-Reader Services. Publisher’s Weekly, 9 April. [online] Available at: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/51426-coursesmart-upgrades-cloud-based-textbook-e-reader-services.html Accessed on: 17/11/2012
April 2012
In April this year, CourseSmart introduced their new e-Reader which offers ‘enhanced user experience for accessing digital textbooks and course material’ (Reid, 2012). The machine is a cloud-based browser which offers a better learning environment and facilities including ‘faster page loading, stream-lined navigation, better highlighting, notes and annotations, improved search and the ability to easily index a complete listing of all notes and annotations’ (Reid, 2012). The e-Reader was the product of faculty and student feedback on what would improve their learning. The device has been designed for easy access to the user’s textbook content through other devices when they are both online and offline.
As a student this e-Reader seems like a great idea. You are able to access your course materials and are able to make revision notes without the need of a pen and paper. CourseSmart has taken a lot of care in developing this device as they have taken into consideration the needs of both students and faculty for improving their education. However I do think that to entice more customers and make it accessible to everyone they should develop a software so people who use CourseSmart can access their digital content on their laptop and are able to have facilities that are currently only available on the e-Reader.
August 2012
In August, CourseSmart partnered with Blackwell’s to sell their eTextbooks and resources through Blackwell’s high street stores and website. The bookseller who specialises in academic publishing and has stores in UK university campuses will offer rental eTextbooks for 180 days or one year for up 50% off the R.R.P of a printed textbook. (Campbell, 2012B) (Publishers Weekly, 2012B)
This is an ideal partnership as Blackwell’s is in the heart of higher education book selling. With Blackwell’s having stores within university grounds, CourseSmart are able to access their demographic easily and through a trusted company that is Blackwell’s. Again, talking as a student, there isn’t anything worse than having to purchase an expensive textbook that you probably only need for one or two semesters. Being able to rent an eTextbook for six months or a year at a discounted price, for a student is a great luxury.
September 2012
Up until September CourseSmart had five founding publishers that were willing to have their education publications available for rent; these publishers include Pearson, Wiley, Macmillan, McGrew-Hill and Cengage. Now eight more publishers are onboard, widening their available resources to students. These well known and large publishers include ‘Sage, Taylor & Francis, Edinburgh University Press, Jessica Kingsley, Gill & Macmillan, CAB International, Goodfellow Publishing and W W Norton’ (Campbell, 2012A).
With more publishers on board, CourseSmart can only get more successful. Their business will expand due to the larger number of eTextbooks that they can offer to their consumers. Having more publishers on board can only bring good things to CourseSmart.
November 2012
Most recently CourseSmart has expanded their business out of Europe and into the Middle East and some parts of Africa. This means that their content and resources will be available in over 70 countries and available for students and educational staff to access their materials worldwide. At the moment products will be sold in pounds sterling but future plans are to sell them in local currencies (Booktrade.info, 2012).
Again this can only bring success to the company. CourseSmart have created a wider platform for students and staff to access their course materials, allowing greater accessibility and ease of use; both attractive qualities for potential customers.
CourseSmart’s expansion over the last year has been a rapid one and a successful one. They are making business with companies that are respected and well known, this is beneficial for CourseSmart as they will be associated with their partnered companies good name. To me their new ventures will only bring them success as they have partnered with the right companies and made their product a more attractive one to buy.
Word Count: 709
Book2Book (2012). CourseSmart expands availability to more countries and launches Free Trial. Available at: http://www.booktrade.info/index.php/showarticle/43859 Accessed on: 17/11/2012 Campbell, L. (2012A). Eight more publishers join CourseSmart. The Bookseller, 14 September. [online] Available at: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/eight-more-publishers-join-coursesmart.html Accessed on: 17/11/2012
Campbell, L. (2012B). CourseSmart and Blackwell’s Link up. The Bookseller, 9 August. [online] Available at: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/coursesmart-and-blackwell%E2%80%99s-link.html Accessed on: 17/11/2012
CourseSmart (2012). About CourseSmart- Overview. Available at: http://www.coursesmart.co.uk/overview Accessed on: 17/11/2012
Pearson (2012). CourseSmart launches in UK. Availabe at: http://www.pearsoned.co.uk/AboutUs/Pressreleases/Latestreleases/Text,12481,en.asp Accessed on: 17/11/2012
Publisher’s Weekly (2012A). CourseSmart partners with Blackwell’s. Available at: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/retailing/article/53489-coursesmart-partners-with-blackwell-s.html Accessed on: 17/11/2012
Publisher’s Weekly (2012B). CourseSmart Expands to the Middle East, Africa. Available at: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/54747-coursesmart-expands-to-the-middle-east-africa.html Accessed on:17/11/2012
Reid,C. (2012). CourseSmart upgrades Cloud-based Textbook e-Reader Services. Publisher’s Weekly, 9 April. [online] Available at: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/51426-coursesmart-upgrades-cloud-based-textbook-e-reader-services.html Accessed on: 17/11/2012