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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
