Blog

It's the Sticker Price, Stupid

brad — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:23:22 +0000

Steve Kolowich at Inside Higher Ed has asked the perennial question: Could this be the year higher education finally embraces the e-book?

Looking at the release of the iPad, the viral rise of textbook rentals, and models such as ours, he has put together a high level map of the current state of affairs in terms of eBooks. Probably worth noting: Unlike other publishers, our e-books do NOT expire like a rental!

Welcome, David Littlehale

eric — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:35:34 +0000

We are thrilled to announce Flat World Knowledge's newest team member - David Littlehale. David joins us as Vice President of Institutional Sales.

Laws May Reduce Textbook Prices

Sanford Forte — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:45:17 +0000

In an effort to halt the out-of-control rise in traditional college textbook costs, new laws and pending legislation (read about them here) have been introduced to force more price transparency from traditional textbook publishers, and to stimulate the publication of more Open-licensed textbooks. The college textbook affordability issue is huge.

CC Catalyst Campaign

brad — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:30:12 +0000

Open Content continues to extend its reach. Today, Creative Commons has announced their Catalyst Campaign to raise seed funding for projects around the world devoted to increasing access and openness.

Flat World Knowledge: Open College Textbooks

skoch — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:24:47 +0000

An article/blog post by Sanford Forte graces the webpages of RedHat's opensource.com this week.

What is Open?

jwilliams — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:52:47 +0000

I am a huge advocate of open source software, and now that I am CTO at an open textbook company, I am pondering the question "What is open?". Let me use the moniker "open product" for covering open source software and open textbooks (and if anyone has a better term, please let me know!).

Some criteria for an open product:-
1) A version of product available at no cost
2) A company developing an open product needs a revenue stream to support product development (in what manner those revenues are derived can vary widely)

The Power of New

kimberly richmond — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:49:07 +0000

It’s that time again…back to school. There’s something about going back to school in January that’s refreshing and renewing. It’s a new year and time for resolutions like, “I’m not going to let things go until the last minute,” and “I’m actually going to study this semester.” It’s the crispness of the new notebooks, day planners, and the organization of the newly-created class folders on your hard drive that makes it feel like this semester is going to be a great one.

Keep It Low--A Flat World Spin on "Let It Snow"

jeffshelstad — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:52:11 +0000

As we wrap up 2009, the most exciting year in Flat World Knowledge’s short history, we wanted to wish our readers a happy holiday season. We thought we would do it to the familiar sounds of a classic winter song, in this case Let It Snow. Our version is Keep It Low. So best wishes to all for an enjoyable holiday season and a prosperous year ahead. Here goes… please sing along.

Oh! The economy was a little frightful;
But students can still be delightful;
And since they don’t all have tons of dough;
Keep It Low; Keep It Low; Keep It Low!

So free access is equal for all;

Finals Week

smclean01 — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:50:09 +0000

The semester is drawing to a close, finals week is around the corner, and the text messages and emails are pouring in. Students I haven't seen or heard from in quite awhile want to know when the final is, what's on the final exam, how many chapters, is there a study guide, and do they have to take it.

Thanks to Our Friends of Flat World

skoch — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:10:39 +0000

We like to call the instructors who adopt our open textbooks "Friends of Flat World." The moniker works for a whole bunch of reasons; friends stand by you, they believe in you, they help you work through the stuff that isn't perfect about you, and appreciate you for those special things you bring to the relationship.