Here is a new entry into the college textbook market — any maybe a game changer too. Publishers no longer have a lock on the content in textbooks — students and even some faculty seem quite willing to make digital copies freely available. And when the cost of the text is high, it makes it worth people’s time to go through the hassle of the uploading and downloading process. And not just cost — students will expect to be able to read their text online, in print, on an e-book reader, on their iPhone, hear it in audio, etc. Authors can’t be counted on to be outraged when piracy prevails — most make little if any money on book sales. The real benefit to most academics is the publishing credits for tenure and promotion reviews.
Flatworld Knowledge seems to be focusing on what is important — value added, convenient services for authors, teachers and students. Keep costs really low, even free, keep expenses low, offer good service, respond quickly to market pressures, and sell value added products. There doesn’t seem to be much in their catalog yet (although there are a couple of interesting listings coming up in the information systems section) , but it will be interesting to watch how this progresses. It seems to me that they have the right approach — time will tell…
Our Story | Flat World Knowledge
We preserve the best of the old – books by leading experts, rigorously reviewed and developed to the highest standards. Then we flip it all on its head. Our books are free online. We offer convenient, low-cost choices for students – softcovers for under $30, audio books and chapters, self-print options, and more. Our books are open for instructors to modify and make their own (for their own course – not for anybody else’s). Our books are the hub of a social learning network where students learn from the book and each other.
Open Source Textbook Maker Flat World Gets Funded – ReadWriteWeb
Flat World Knowledge started out with a revolutionary idea, which was to start creating and publishing college textbooks that were absolutely free online. Its business model is to offer the option for students and teachers to print textbooks in whole or part at a fraction of the cost of a standard hardbound college textbook. In addition it offers audio book versions, study guides, web quizzes and digital flash cards for a fee.
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Randall Rode's online home for thoughts, notes, and experiments with a wide range of technology topics. Visit the about page for info on my recent projects and professional background. I welcome your comments!
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