Vital Source Launches E-Textbook Building Block for Blackboard Learn Platform
Vital Source Technologies, Inc., Ingram Content Group’s leading e-textbook solution, today announced the general availability of a comprehensive e-textbook Building Block that integrates its VitalSource Bookshelf® platform with Blackboard Learn™, Blackboard’s flagship learning management system (LMS).
“Through our work with Vital Source, we are able to deliver practical tools to educators that will help them create a more engaging learning experience,” said Jim Kelly, Vice President of Business Development at Blackboard. “We are also able give students the ability to interact with the newest media-rich content and learning tools.”
The VitalSource® Building Block for Blackboard Learn is an integrated e-textbook solution that benefits institutions, instructors, and students. In addition to providing single sign-on integration between the two systems, the VitalSource Building Block is the first Blackboard integration for e-textbooks configured to work directly with Blackboard Mobile™ Learn for iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ and Kindle Fire® devices.
Instructors can search, sample and adopt VitalSource Bookshelf platform e-textbooks and make them available directly for students within their Blackboard Learn course environment with a single click. Instructors can quickly construct courses, deep link to rich media and interactive learning activities, and annotate and direct students to exact sections of an e-textbook and required readings. Through rich analytic tools, faculty can easily view individual and aggregate class engagement data, and use it to manage successful learning outcomes.
Through the VitalSource Building Block, students have instant access to feature-rich interactive e-textbooks that allow for deep exploration of online content. The Building Block provides access to the cutting-edge technology the VitalSource Bookshelf platform offers, including integrated notes and note sharing, highlight features, annotations and more. The platform provides complete portability online, offline and across devices so wherever a Vital Source e-textbook is read, a students’ work will always be in sync.
“We are pleased that our VitalSource Building Block will make it easier for teachers and students to find, use and share the newest digital content and tools within their Blackboard Learn courses,” said Kent Freeman, Chief Operating Officer, Vital Source Technologies, Inc. “The direct integration of the VitalSource Bookshelf platform with Blackboard Learn and its on-the-go-access will enhance how educators teach and students learn.”
The integrated solution fully supports the needs of the two education business models. Institutions that include textbooks as part of tuition can place e-textbooks directly into Blackboard Learn courses for immediate student access, while supporting add/drop periods at the start of class. Alternatively, a student-purchase option would give instructors the opportunity to make e-textbooks available for students to purchase or rent from within their Blackboard Learn course environment.
The VitalSource Bookshelf platform is the most used e-textbook delivery platform in higher education with more than 3.25 million users across 6,000 campuses around the world. It uses the latest technology to enhance the learning experience through e-textbooks and digital education. Content from more than 350 of the world’s top academic publishers is accessible to VitalSource Bookshelf users anytime, anywhere, and on a variety of operating systems and devices.
Blackboard is a global leader in enterprise technology and innovative solutions that improve the experience of millions of students and learners around the world every day. Blackboard’s solutions allow thousands of higher education, K-12, professional, corporate and government organizations to extend teaching and learning online.
For more information about Blackboard Learn, visit http://www.blackboard.com/learn.
For more information about Vital Source Technologies, visit www.vitalsource.com.
Ingram Content Group Inc. is a subsidiary of Nashville-based Ingram Industries Inc. The company provides books, music and media content to over 39,000 retailers, libraries, schools and distribution partners in 195 countries. More than 26,000 publishers use Ingram’s fully integrated physical and digital distribution, logistics, and manufacturing solutions to access global consumer demand, and realize the full business potential of book content. Ingram’s operating units are Ingram Book Company, Lightning Source Inc., Vital Source Technologies, Inc., Ingram Periodicals Inc., Ingram International Inc., Ingram Library Services Inc., Spring Arbor Distributors Inc., Ingram Publisher Services Inc., Tennessee Book Company LLC, Coutts Information Services, and ICG Ventures Inc. For more information, visit www.ingramcontent.com