Textbooks

Ed Map, OpenStax Partnership Increases Access to Affordable Course Materials

• By Rhea Kelly
• 10/04/16

Ed Map is expanding its portfolio of educational content with an array of openly licensed print and digital textbooks. The course materials management company has added OpenStax, the Rice University-based nonprofit provider of free and low-cost peer-reviewed textbooks, to its Integrated Content Network of partners.

The partnership will enable Ed Map to offer OpenStax texts alongside its traditional course materials, including print textbooks, e-books and adaptive courseware. The variety of choices will make it easier for faculty to use lower-cost materials in their courses, helping increase affordability and access, according to David Harris, editor in chief at OpenStax.  

"Our partnerships with companies like Ed Map allow professors many low-cost options when choosing course materials, resulting in increased access for students," said Harris, in a statement. "OpenStax has had a significant impact on student affordability and access by offering 25 openly licensed, peer-reviewed free textbooks for the nation's highest enrolled courses. Our textbooks meet stated faculty needs for quality, low price and discoverability."

Ed Map's platform allows institutions to manage their course materials on an enterprise level, streamlining the process of providing accessible, high-quality, affordable content, according to a press release.

"Many institutions are strapped with fragmented course content strategies resulting in high costs combined with isolated use of digital course materials," said Kerry Pigman, president and COO of Ed Map, in a statement. "For example, we will see adaptive products employed by some departments, the bookstore offering e-textbooks paired with used or rental, and OER adoptions driven by Instructional Design or individual faculty. This disjointed approach leaves no room to capitalize on the best affordability options or the promise of digital to improve learning outcomes. To be successful and operate efficiently at scale, institutions need a thoughtful, integrated, unified content strategy."

For more information, visit the Ed Map site.