Late last week Apple announced the launch of a number of new tools, technologies, and publishing partnerships aimed at speeding the delivery of interactive eTextbooks for the iPad to the marketplace. Most notably, the company detailed an expanded eBook content store, iBooks 2, featuring eTextbooks developed specifically for the iPad. In addition, Apple has created a new eTextbook-authoring tool called iBooks Author that makes it easy for instructors or other content authors to generate and distribute interactive eBooks for the iPad. Last, Apple also announced an upgrade to iTunes U with new features that make it easier for instructors to upload course-specific content like syllabi, lecture videos, and podcasts for students to access.
At Jones & Bartlett Learning, we welcome these announcements and look forward to working with Apple to develop new and innovative content solutions that help make learning more dynamic, interactive, and engaging for today’s higher education students. Like Apple, we are committed to developing innovative digital learning solutions that help lower the cost of course materials, while also ensuring high quality learning experiences that measurably improve student outcomes.
Since 2009, Jones & Bartlett Learning has significantly invested in and expanded our digital capabilities enabling greater title availability in a wider range of eBook formats. This robust, multi-format distribution strategy gives our customers a broader range of delivery formats and pricing options.
Our customers can easily see our alternate format options on our product catalog pages at www.jblearning.com. Working directly with leading eBook partners such as Amazon, CourseSmart, Google, Kno, VitalSource, Cafescribe, Barnes & Noble, MBS
and many others, Jones & Bartlett Learning is leading the way in making our eBooks available in more formats and retail outlets than any other higher education publisher.
In addition to offering our eTexbooks through our distribution partners, Jones & Bartlett Learning has partnered with leading higher education institutions to make our titles available directly to students through institutional course management portals or learning management systems. Our personalized service and range of digital customization options have helped make us a “go-to” partner for institutions looking to innovate with digital content at the course or program level.
For more information on how Jones & Bartlett Learning is driving innovation by making more content available in digital formats, or to discuss digital content partnership opportunities, please email me at apendergast@jblearning.com.
