FAQ

Note: We will update this page as we learn more. We know there will be issues yet to be worked out before classes begin in the fall. We hope you will be willing to commit to participation in the pilot prior to having all the answers. Questions about participation can be directed to Sandy Bennett Sandy_Bennett@baylor.edu

  1. What is an eText?
    eText is the shorthand term that describes the emerging digital version of textbooks and other educational resources. eTexts are inclusive of content such as workbooks, problem sets, tutorials, videos, simulations, and interactive software.
  2. Is a printed option of an eText available for students?
    Yes.  Baylor believes that printing options are an essential element of any viable eText offering.  Under the current agreements with publishers, students are allowed to print directly on their own printers (without fee) or obtain a high quality, professionally bound version of the eText shipped directly to them for an additional cost.
  3. How do students access their eTexts?
    eTexts available through the Baylor eText Book Pilot are accessed via Blackboard. Once a student signs into Blackboard, and accesses the course section e-Textbook Pilot, they will see a tab for Getting to Courseload on the left side of the page. Clicking on this tab will provide students access to Courseload and their eTexts.
  4.  What is the format of the e-texts?
    Currently, McGraw-Hill’s e-texts are in PDF format. We are told that by fall, ePUB format should be available. We’ll update this FAQ as we learn more.
  5. What e-reader software will be used and what platforms are supported?
    The e-reader software is Courseload; more information about the product and company is located here: http://www.courseload.com/  Courseload operates on any web-enabled device with a modern browser (i.e., that can handle HTML 5). A student will need access to a computer, laptop, tablet or smart-phone (including iOS and Android devices) in order to use the e-reader and access the text. The student can read the e-text on multiple devices. The Courseload software must be installed by the student onto the device. Connection to the Internet is required for software installation.

  1. How was it determined that Baylor would participate? How was Baylor accepted into the pilot?
    Pattie Orr, Vice President for IT & Dean of University Libraries is representing Baylor by serving on the national committee to develop and manage the pilot. Thinking the pilot would be of interest to faculty and academic administrators, the idea was promoted to the President, Provost, Academy for Teaching and Learning, and Baylor Bookstore.
  2. Which institutions are participating?
    The final list of participants has not yet been determined but is limited to 50 institutions.
  3.  Which Baylor faculty are participating? How are they being selected?
    This pilot is limited to those faculty who submitted required McGraw-Hill texts to the Bookstore as it was the only publisher willing to commit in time for Fall Semester 2012. The Baylor Bookstore has identified faculty with such texts for the Fall Semester, and the list was provided to Online Teaching and Learning Services for coordination of faculty participants. Given the short timeline for this pilot, selection will be made based upon willingness to participate before all details are known, and based upon the diversity of faculty and programs which can be reasonably accommodated in the short timeframe.
  4. Will I still order books through the Baylor Bookstore?
    All supplemental material beyond e-texts will be ordered normally through the Baylor Bookstore.
  5. What are the costs of e-texts for faculty and students who take part in the pilot?
    Students and faculty will not pay for the e-texts or the e-reader software. The only cost to students and faculty will be for a print copy, if so desired.
  6. How was the e-reader software selected?
    This pilot builds on work within a small group of Internet2 schools that previously conducted a pilot with Courseload and McGraw-Hill. We expect additional platform providers to join future pilots, which likely will explore different business models and delivery tools from the current pilot’s, as well as expanded content from more publishers. Those agreements have not yet been reached, since planning for the next pilot will not begin until we’ve completed enrolling participants in the current one.
  7. Can I access the e-reader software even if I am not participating in the pilot?
    Yes. Courseload, the e-reader software being used for the pilot, is available for campus-wide use. Courseload can be used to deliver course materials (notes, original texts, proprietary or licensed texts, etc.) through Blackboard. It offers individual and collaborative tools for learning such as highlighting, embedding notes, and sharing annotations while allowing the instructor to monitor how students are using the materials.
  8. If I choose not participate in the Fall 2012 pilot, will there be more opportunities at a later date?
    At the moment, this pilot is limited to the Fall semester of 2012 and will not be continued thereafter. However, you are free to adopt e-texts in future courses at your discretion.

  1. How will students get books? How will faculty?
    Students will access their e-text books through Blackboard. Authentication is through the individual’s Baylor username and password. As we have more details, we will communicate them. We believe faculty will obtain access the same way, but are awaiting more information.
  2. Are there benefits for students beyond just cost savings?
    Yes.  The Courseload eText reader software allows students to highlight and annotate the text with comments.  Different highlight colors may denote “For Final Exam,”  “Homework,” or categories named by each student.  Students may optionally choose to share their annotations with their study group or the professor — sometimes referred to as Social Annotation.  Faculty can annotate the text and have his/her annotations propagate to all students’ eTexts.
  3. Does the e-reader software allow for student notations and highlighting?  Are the notations and highlights stored on the local device?
    The Courseload e-text reader software allows students to highlight and annotate the text with comments. Different highlight colors may denote “For Final Exam,”  “Homework,” or categories named by each student. Students may optionally choose to share their annotations with their study group or the professor — sometimes referred to as Social Annotation. Faculty can annotate the text and have his/her annotations propagate to all students’ e-texts. Notations and highlights are stored on the local device and are synced to the Courseload server when the student connects again to the Internet.
  4. Can students print their annotations and notes?
    Yes.  Students can select various combinations to print the eText with or without notes, or just the notes without the chapter pages.
  5. Can students access their eTexts on different devices?
    eTexts available through the Baylor eTextbook Pilot can be accessed on any device with a web browser.
  6. Does the student have to be connected to the network to read the e-text?
    The student needs to connect to the network to download the e-text to the device from which it’s being read, but thereafter, the student has access to the e-text at all times, regardless of connection to the Internet.
  7. Are paper texts available?
    Yes. If a student wishes to retain permanent access to the text, s/he can print out 50 pages of the text at a time on a personal printer, or can purchase a black and white, professionally bound “print-on-demand” book which typically costs around $25. The printing or purchase of a print-on-demand book must occur while the student is still officially enrolled in the course. Once the term ends or the student drops the course, the student loses ability to obtain the text in printed format.
  8. Will the page numbers on an e-text match those in the printed version?
    Yes. The e-reader software ensures that page numbers on the e-text match the printed version.
  9. Can other materials (non-McGraw Hill e-texts) be loaded into the reader?
    Yes, faculty can deliver Open Educational Resources, faculty-authored, or other non-copyrighted digital content as part of the pilot. These additional sections do not count against the total number of sections defined in the pilot, and are provided via Courseload at no additional cost.
  10. Can the e-text software be turned off, or access denied, during exams? Indiana University reports they are examining ways to ensure that access to the e-text is denied during any exams that utilize computers, laptops, electronic devices, etc. We don’t have any further knowledge but will update this information when we know more. Faculty are encouraged to include in course syllabi their policies about mobile devices and access to materials via mobile devices during class periods and exams. The Baylor Honor Code is expected to be followed by everyone participating in the pilot.
  11. Are the e-texts accessible to students with accessibility needs?
    Currently, the software and e-texts do not meet specific requirements for accessibility. Participating institutions must provide accessible materials through their normal means. In Baylor’s case, this means the Office of Access and Learning Accommodation is responsible for scanning texts into the format needed for students with accessibility needs. It is possible that e-texts may be accessible for Fall Semester. We will test this as soon as the materials are available.
  12. How long will students have access to the electronic texts?
    A student will have access to the e-texts as long as s/he remains registered for the class. If a student drops the course, access to the text is removed.
  13. Does the e-text model raise any FERPA issues?  Is any usage data retained?
    Indiana University reports it has not experienced any FERPA issues during pilots on the IU campuses. We will continue closely monitoring this concern.The terms of the pilot specify that McGraw-Hill and Courseload may not use data on student identity, attributes, usage or similar information for any purpose not directly relevant to the pilot or any related research project, and must purge all student data at the conclusion of the pilot.

  1. Is there a research project associated with the pilot?
    There is an optional research project which Baylor will opt into. We don’t have the full details of the study, but we’ve been told a survey will be conducted to gauge student and faculty satisfaction with electronic materials and to assess learning outcomes.Separate research opportunities for faculty and graduate students are also possible. If you have a specific project in mind, please contact Sandy Bennett Sandy_Bennett@baylor.edu
  1.  Who will support faculty and students in their use of e-texts?
    Initial requests for assistance can be directed to the IT Services Help Desk at (254) 710-4537.Other resources will be published in this website and on the following Baylor website sometime this summer: http://www.baylor.edu/lib/etexts.An additional source of support is the set of extensive web pages at Indiana University, available here: http://etexts.iu.edu/index.php Some of the information contained in this set of FAQs is drawn from the Indiana University FAQ list here: http://etexts.iu.edu/faq/index.php.Indiana University also publishes some publicly available videos about e-Texts here: http://etexts.iu.edu/docs/index.php  (OnCourse is the IU learning management system Baylor uses Blackboard.) Some videos highlight use of Courseload. 

 

Note: some of the FAQs were adapted from the Indiana University FAQ list available here: http://etexts.iu.edu/faq/index.php and the Prospectus for the EDUCAUSE/Internet2 pilot for Fall 2012.