CAAHE Module-Text Survey
The Institute for Professional Development Academic Services department conducted the annual Textbook-Module Survey of its partner institutions. The survey consisted of the following questions:
- How do students (and faculty) receive course modules? (e.g., download, hard copy, CD, e-mail)
- Do students receive a course syllabus in addition to the course module?
- How does the course syllabus differ from the course module?
- Who orders textbooks for your institution? (e.g., students, staff, mixed)
- Who delivers textbooks to students?
- Has your institution made any significant changes related to providing textbooks for students?
- Does your institution provide ISBN numbers to the students prior to beginning the program?
- Are your students permitted to purchase their books from a source other than your institution?
- How widely has your institution adopted the e-books?
- Are students in your programs provided a laptop computer by the institution?
The survey was conducted in September 2012. Four out of the five institutions surveyed responded.
Survey Results
How do students (and faculty) receive course modules? (e.g., download, hard copy, CD, e-mail)
At three institutions, the students can download the course module from the institution's LMS. The students at one of these three institutions can also receive the course module through the mail. At one of these three institutions, the faculty members receive the course module through e-mail. The students at the last institution do not receive the course module; although, the faculty members download the course module from the institution's LMS.
Do students receive a course syllabus in addition to the course module?
Two out of the four institutions give students a syllabus in addition to the course module. At one of these institutions, the course syllabus is actually part of the course module. The students receive the course syllabus portion of the course module. They do not receive the whole module. At the other institution, the course syllabus outlines classroom policies and contact information. It does not repeat what is in the course module. The students at one institution receive the course syllabus instead of the course module. The course syllabus is a portion of the course module. The last institution does not give the students a course syllabus.
How does the course syllabus differ from the course module?
The faculty members at one institution create a course syllabus that contains all of their classroom policies. This course syllabus does not repeat what is found in the course module. At another institution, the course module breaks all the information down week-by-week. The course syllabus combines the information into a shorter document. The course syllabus at another institution does not include the faculty guide, rubrics, and assessments that are found in the course module.
Who orders textbooks for your institution? (e.g., students, staff, mixed)
The Textbook Distribution Department orders the textbooks at one institution. The bookstore, staff, and students order textbooks at another institution. At one institution, the Student Services Administrative Assistant orders the textbooks for the faculty members, while the students order their own textbooks. Staff members at another institution order the textbooks.
Who delivers textbooks to students?
The delivery method depends on the course at one institution. This institution delivers the textbooks for all introductory courses, while the bookstore or other sellers deliver the textbook for other courses. UPS or USPS delivers the textbooks at one institution. The students are responsible for obtaining their own textbooks at one institution, while staff members deliver the textbooks at the last institution.
Has your institution made any significant changes related to providing textbooks for students?
Three of the four institutions have not made any significant changes to the textbooks process. One institution no longer delivers the textbooks for the first class to the classroom.
Does your institution provide ISBN numbers to the students prior to beginning the program?
One institution provides the ISBN on a course-by-course basis, while another institution posts the ISBNs on its Web site by July 1 of each year. The list is for the entire year. Two institutions do not provide the ISBNs for the textbooks. At one of these institutions, the students have the option of opting out of the textbook purchase program. If a student opts out of the program, ISBNs will be provided to him/her.
Are your students permitted to purchase their books from a source other than your institution?
The students at one institution are not allowed to purchase their textbooks from another source. The students are the three other institutions have the freedom to purchase their textbooks from other sources. One of these institutions advises the students to do so at their own risk and to ensure that the ISBN is correct.
How widely has your institution adopted the e-books?
E-books have not been widely adopted at all four of the institutions. A few of the students at one institution have used e-books; however, most of the students tend to rent their textbooks. One institution is starting to use e-books in one specific program, while another institution is currently looking into a strategy for implementing the use of e-books.
Are students in your programs provided a laptop computer by the institution?
Laptop computers are not provided by all four institutions. One institution has started to provide iPads at the beginning of one of its programs.
View the full results of the survey in Adobe Acrobat format (PDF).
