Follett Higher Education Learning Group has entered a partnership that will allow students to use its CafeScribe interactive digital textbook technology in coordination with Blackboard Learn, the online teaching platform used at colleges around the country. CaféScribe offers students digital texts from about 55 publishers through a platform that allows students or professors to add highlights, annotations or new content and easily distribute them across classroom, campus or even international study groups.
Originally acquired by Follett in 2008, the CafeScribe technology allows the replication of the physical books layout and illustration. CaféScribe textbooks are downloaded to personal computers and they allow students to add notations that will stay on specific pages and can be easily searched and reused. The technology is socially networked and can them be distributed to small or larger study groups using the same technology.
Gary Shapiro, senior v-p, intellectual properties for Follett, told PW that CafeScribe works much the same for professors, allowing them to insert original class materials, library citations, video or other multimedia sources material, or individual class notes, directly into textbook content. This material can then be distributed digitally across study groups while keeping it connected to the orginal text. Indeed professors can add all kinds of material without changing the original textbook content.
Isabella Hinds, Follett director of digital content, said Follett offers about 10,000 texts in the CafeScribe technology and the partnership with Blackboard will allow students to eaily click through to the Follett online store. Students can also use the campus bookstore to purchase an access code and download the CafeScribe texts. CafeScribe Texts are discounted from 25% to 50% off the hardcover list price.In addition to CafeScribe, Follett's product line includes digital or hardcover titles as well as rental textbooks for as much as 50% less than buying. “Students can rent, by new or buy digital,” Hind said. Follett titles are available through about 870 campus bookstores
Shapiro also noted that Follett’s owns the CafeScribe technology and its board has just approved new investment in upgrading the technology, “we own the technology and it will evolve and students can be sure that we will make sure it continues to meet their needs over time.”
