Textbooks for Your iPod
August 17th, 2009 | Published in distance learning
A new application for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch puts textbooks in your pocket.
CourseSmart LLC currently provides over 7,000 etextbooks in subjects such as Criminal Justice, Social Work, Religious Studies and more. Students will now be able to quickly access these etextbooks via the new CourseSmart application on their iPhone or iPod Touch. When students rent an etextbook from CourseSmart, for about half the price for the physical textbook, they will have access to it from the CourseSmart application as well as any computer connected to the Internet for 180 days.
The etextbook is not a new concept; Amazon developed their Kindle reader a few years ago and now offers over 3,000 McGraw-Hill educational titles, with more to come in the near future. The difference is that the Kindle reader is much like a mini laptop that only stores ebooks whereas the CourseSmart application is available on the iPhone or iPod Touch; something students already carry to class with them. Also, students are already accustomed to reading on their iPhones and would not have to adjust to reading on the Kindle reader.
The CourseSmart application will give students the opportunity to reference their textbook at any time. Students will no longer have to worry about forgetting their book at home when they head to class or a group meeting.
