The Xplanation

I know many of you have busy schedules and may not catch everything that we post on The Xplanation. With that in mind, we’ve decided to conveniently collect some of the week’s highlights and offer them up in one short recap, just incase anyone needs to get caught up.

We had a couple of prevailing themes this week. The most prevalent theme was heavily centered on textbooks: more specifically OER’s, impact on publishers, and student trends. Second to this, and not to be overlooked, was news on social media and going mobile.

Important information you won’t want to miss:

Textbooks and Publishers

1. Possible Impact of OERs and Other Free Content on the Textbook Publishing Industry.

Here you will find information on a new stream of Open Educational Resources (OERs) to hit the Higher Education space over the next five years and the new business model it will require.

2. Student Trends to Watch week-long series.

• Student Trends to Watch — Deferred Textbook Purchases
• Student Trends to Watch — Purchasing Textbooks Online
• Student Trends to Watch — Textbook Rental
• Student Trends to Watch — Content Consumption and Production

The series displays statistics surrounding student trends and textbook transaction

3. What’s in the News: The New Frugal Student Shopper

College student, Sonni Wise, writes about her experience with textbook purchases, and why students have had it with college bookstores and their prices.

Social Media

1. Everything Will Be Social and Mobile (and that includes education)

“Social news is the wave of the future.”

2. Students say Facebook is Top Choice for Social Media