collegestudentsrule

E-textbooks Offer The Next Wave Of Academic Technology

Guest Author: Heather Hefner, Largemouth Communications, Inc

If you’ve never used an e-textbook, you may not be aware of what it can do. You may even be under the impression that an e-textbook is nothing more than a massive PDF file. Not quite. You may also think that e-books require a special reader in order to be viewed. Not really. In fact, the e-book platform of choice among academic publishers, VitalSource Bookshelf is PC and Mac compatible. It is also free and full of functionalities designed to enhance the learning process. E-textbooks loaded on Bookshelf allow you to:

Highlight your digital copy with multiple colors of virtual markers for color coding.

Take digital notes.

Share notes and highlights with classmates by building a network of friends in your class who are also reading a copy of the e-textbook. This is done directly on the e-textbook’s page, thanks to the platform’s social networking technology.

Rank your classmates’ notes for easy access to the most useful annotations (make sure you befriend the guy at the top of your Philosophy class…).

Create folders directly on Bookshelf where you can place not only books but also materials from the Web or other applications such as Word or PowerPoint. You can add a link to the folder by simply dragging the hyperlink to the folder, and you can drag files from your computer to folders also.

Access e-textbooks, notes, folders content, etc. online or offline.

Copy-paste text and have the bibliographical information automatically generated.

Perhaps most relevant to final exam season is these e-books’ search capabilities. They allow you to search for a concept, name, topic etc. within your notes, a specific classmate’s notes, a book, even your entire digital library.

Here’s a demo from VitalSource, the technology company that developed Bookshelf, that can help bring to life what I’ve just described:

http://downloads.vitalbook.com/images/flash_demo/

One of the reasons why this platform is so powerful is it was originally developed as a research project focused specifically on textbooks. It was meant for students and was refined to take into consideration feedback from students and professors who adopted the technology early on. Today, approximately one out of three dental schools in the US are using VitalSource e-textbooks. Some colleges have migrated the entire curriculum to the platform and gone 100 percent digital. Such is the case of NYU’s College of Dentistry.

As you may already have noticed at campus bookstores, more publishers are making textbooks available in electronic format. When Fall comes around you will likely seen dozens more titles for sale in e-book format – McGraw-Hill, Pearson Education and other top publishers are investing heavily in this space. What’s more, these editions will likely be offered at a discounted price, making them an attractive alternative to new and even used textbooks. E-textbooks can be purchased online, at campus bookstores and other retailers nationwide.

College Students Love A Good Cause

I spend a lot of time around college students. Nothing seems to motivate them more than a worthwhile cause. I think it's because they discover a way to make a difference in the world and have a lot of energy to put into it. Just look at the rallies, protests, and petition drives in your area and you'll discover a lot of college students who have found a way to get involved.

Are you a college student without a cause?

Don't be apathetic. You can join in and make a difference as well. Take a look around you and consider these four things:

1. Focus on people.
The best causes are the ones that help another person out. That person or group of people may be the victims of injustice, oppression, or abuse. If you want a worthwhile cause, start with those who need the help of others to even survive.

2. Find a need.
It would be foolish to start fighting for less bristles on toothbrushes. First of all...no one sees that as a glaring need in our society. But there are real needs out there. Basic needs that aren't being met. How about clean drinking water, clean air, or just cleaning your room.

3. Figure out your resources.
One thing that college students seem to have more of is time. Perhaps you have a larger discretionary income. Or you might know a lot of people with large discretionary incomes. As you work to right the wrongs through your cause, consider what types of resources you can use in your efforts.

4. Follow your heart.
Standing up for a cause as a way to meet people of the opposite sex is scarcely enough motivation to keep you in it for very long. You need to find something that really interests you - something that you really care about. Most of the time, it will cost you something to fight for a cause. It's only your passion and dedication that will keep you in when things get difficult.

Remember, the best causes are the ones that you fight for someone else's benefit. If your greatest cause is to build your own financial empire...you might not get many people on board to join you. Hope that doesn't discourage all of you multi-level marketing students out there.