Re: Course Pre Reading

PD:
Not really. There's stuff that you just can't get in print: Animations,
video clips of demonstrations, simulations, instantaneous feedback on
automatically graded homework problems, etc.

All of which has dubious value.

It is exactly as you said, they don't earn anything from the used book
market. So instead, books come with software that has a limited
subscription. If someone has your book after the subscription runs out,
and wants to use it in class, too bad! They have to buy a whole new
subscription.

That's right. And you can go completely digital for 75% of the list
price of the print book, and get more stuff than what's in the print
book.

There are few, if any, textbooks which would be improved by expanding
the same content into more words/pictures/etc. On the contrary, most
textbooks would be improved by conciseness and eliminating everything
that could be left out.

Or you can buy a print book at full price and sell it back at the
end of the semester for 20% of your purchase price. Hmm...

At least with a printed textbook, you have the option of keeping
the book, reading it without restrictions and not having to print
out stuff when you don't feel like straining your eyes reading a
computer screen (assuming the digital versions allow you to even
print the material - even if they do, there goes your savings).


.

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