Internet2, McGraw-Hill, Courseload

As textbooks continue shifting to digital, Internet2, McGraw-Hill and Courseload today announced implementation of an eText Pilot Trial Pack to students and faculty at five universities for the Spring 2012 semester. The five institutions, as well Internet2 members, include: University of California, Berkeley; Cornell University; University of Minnesota; University of Virginia; and the University of Wisconsin.

The pilot get McGraw-Hill eTexts

Participating universities in the pilot get McGraw-Hill eTexts, the Courseload reader and annotation platform integrated with their Learning Management System, and can be part of a joint innovation study of eText use and perceptions. Through the Courseload software, students can print, use social annotation with classmates and instructors, and access their eTexts on any HTML5-capable tablet, smartphone, or computer. Students will receive their eTexts at no cost as the institutions are subsidizing the study, and students who prefer a full hardcopy book may optionally order a print-on-demand version of the eText for a $28 fee. Faculty interest at the pilot institutions has been very strong.

"Our academic community has been very positive about our eText pilot," said Bruce Maas, vice provost for information research and chief information officer, University of Wisconsin - Madison. "Combining services on a national scale thru Internet2's NET+ Services enables the higher education community to influence publishers and the eText offering. This influence helps us to better represent the interests of our students and faculty, and better address important areas just as accessibility. The result of this national partnership benefits all of us."

"Efficient markets have informed buyers and sellers, and this multi-university pilot is a big leap forward for institutions to better understand how they can shape the market while the transition to digital," said Brad Wheeler, vice president for information research and chief information officer, Indiana University. "This pilot would not have been possible without Internet2's NET+ Services, as it went from first thought to real implementation on campuses in less than 60 days. It's a great example of how universities can have greater influence when we learn fast and engage early."

Indiana UniversityNik Osborne, 812-855-5487nosborne@iu.eduorInternet2Todd Sedmak, 202-331-5373todd@Internet2.eduorMcGraw-HillTom Stanton, 212-904-3214tom_stanton@mcgraw-hill.comorCourseloadErin Wray, 317-602-1427erin@Courseload.com