The VitalSource Resource

Higher education in the United Kingdom is changing, and a number of factors are contributing to this. The steady rise in tuition fees means that students are beginning to view university in a different light. Gone are the days when higher education institutions are simply viewed as “cathedrals of learning.” Instead, modern students have an increasingly transactional view of university. Student satisfaction and value for money is high on their agenda, and moves are being made by industry bodies in order to evaluate both these areas for prospective students.

For VitalSource—and our institutions, schools, and large business customers—data privacy and security has always been a priority. Our goal is to provide our customers with the tools to support our mutual commitment.

Nearly all college students, 92 percent to be exact, believe that digital textbooks have advantages over traditional textbooks, but studies find that faculty are more reluctant than their students to transition to digital. To meet these needs, faculty must learn to integrate digital into the classroom—but many don’t know where to start or how best to use the available tools.

VitalSource commissioned Shift Learning to conduct research with current students in the United Kingdom to explore the perceived impact of eTextbooks on students’ learning outcomes and confidence. The research sought to understand usage of eTextbooks, in addition to the benefits and challenges for different groups of students.

The Washington Post recently explored the revolution in college course materials in an article published on April 14, 2018. The article investigated questions about cost, fairness, and access for students as they grapple with high prices and adapt to changing technologies.