Monthly Archives: September 2012

Professor Reviews Feature as Powerful Academic Tool

Posted by Jules Mariano in Education |        on , , | Reply

professor in brown suitAs educational policies change year after year, educational institutions find it really useful to know students’ feedback about how their professors are doing. And one way to find that out is to learn how students are reacting to instructors or professors’ teaching strategy.

We at BookGator are continually devising website features and tools that helps both students and professors a way to take steps forward to improving teaching and learning. Just recently we have started working an academic cloud platform called CourseEasy where students in the academic institutions are able to manage their school work, seek the help of professors in a whole new way and connect with other students inasmuch as their courses are concerned.

To start with, if you sign up with BookGator you’ll be presented with a number of tabs that gives you the chance to manage your school-related work like shopping for textbooks, sell, trade, or buy them online and see what students are saying about your particular textbook of choice. You’ll also get to compare how textbooks are priced across all online bookstores.

You can also trade and swap your old textbooks and benefit from getting textbooks without spending any single cent from your pocket. You may also expand your circle of friends to improve your chances of getting the textbooks that you’ll be needing in the coming semester. Calendar is also available to bookmark important milestones in your academic career as well as take note of important information related to your activities in BookGator as well as the textbooks you’ve traded online with other students.

Professor reviews are also useful in that they are a key to help teachers find out how they are doing as well as figure out a way for them to improve their teaching style. The certain level of transparency in BookGator and CourseEasy is useful for the academe as it ensures that teachers adhere to high standards of teaching.

The use of novel technological resources intimidates many especially in the academic institutions. It is an exciting opportunity for schools to be able to see this on a different perspective and open up their doors to advance their cause in producing tomorrow’s leaders.

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Online Bookstores as New Social Networking Portal for Students

Posted by Jules Mariano in online bookstore |        on | Reply

bookstoreOnline bookstores can use students’ preference for social networking to topple or displace traditional bookstores. Students like the idea of integrating social element into Internet-based shopping.

It will not be easy for online bookstores to completely take the position of traditional bookshops as a top choice for students who need to buy textbooks. Many people love holding books and flipping the pages to browse the content instantly. As Internet-based bookstores sell physical books for delivery, that limitation is almost overcome.

However, to many, buying books at traditional bookstores is an opportunity to interact with other people. They solicit opinions and recommendations not just of store personnel but also of other shoppers. That may not be possible when buying items through Internet bookshops. But if those can integrate social networking into their sites, many students, readers, and prospective customers will surely be appreciative.

Putting social element into online buying

In general, social element is almost always present when shopping in person. Online shopping, on the other hand, is often considered a solitary experience. No one likes to bother other people or be bothered by other people when shopping for books but at times, doing so can be a pleasurable and likely experience.

Students will appreciate it if they can interact with other students when buying items at online bookstores. This way, they can solicit feedback and insights about the books. They can also share and exchange information, knowledge, and tips about possible alternatives or how to best appreciate a book.

Sharing interests with other students

Students will certainly like the idea of getting in touch with other students (from their community and from other areas) who share the same interests. This is because they can get pointers and additional insights about the topics that interest them. Sharing the interest in something will be like getting into a group learning session.

Online bookstores will be better as social networking portals for students if there are useful features. Instant and real-time messaging will be the first requirement. It will enable them to interact with other students online. It will also appeal to them if they can view other students who buy the same books they buy. That will be a great start for meeting acquaintances and possibly establishing new friendships.

The virtual world is continuously developing and online bookstores should take advantage of it. Social networking is one of the favorite recreational activities of the youth. If students will use Internet bookshops’ sites as new portals for social networking, the benefits will be on all parties. It is time such bookstores make the move.

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How Online Bookstores Overcome Challenges in Availability of Textbooks

Posted by Jules Mariano in Textbooks |        on | Reply

bookstoreOnline bookstores can help overcome the usual problem about availability of textbooks. Here are ways those bookshops help students find and buy the copies they need.

Students can bid goodbye to bad experiences when finding and buying the textbooks they need. Online bookstores are here to provide better and alternative service to them. If a book is quite rare and hard to find in the market, students can surely find and purchase it online.

Availability of specific books can be a real challenge. Traditional bookstores will not always sell the reference materials that students need. But Internet-based bookshops will more likely do. Besides, it can be easier to find online stores that sell the books if a Website does not include those in its catalog.

No more ‘out of stock’

Brick and mortar bookstores are often hindered by limitations in space and budget. That can be cited as a common reason why most of the time, they may not have the textbooks students need to buy. They may be offering and selling textbooks but because of the mentioned limitations, they may not keep numerous units in inventory. Thus, not all students in the area can buy the same textbooks at a time.

Internet-based bookstores do not face similar restrictions. Those businesses sell even the most esoteric and rarest textbooks. Students may even place order for a seldom-requested or out of stock title, which may even be impossible to be found and bought at a traditional bookshop.

Books can be ordered online. Safe and secured electronic payment transactions are facilitated. Within a specified time frame, the purchased textbooks will be delivered right to the doorstep of students. No one has to worry anymore about bookstores getting out of stock of certain textbooks or editions.

Popularity of ebooks

Online bookstores are the only businesses where electronic versions of textbooks can be purchased. Ebooks are now more popular because of the convenience and cost effectiveness that come with those. They are not physical and can be accessed or retrieved anytime of the day or anywhere as long as the user has a PC, an e-reader, or any related device.

Needless to say, ebooks naturally fit with Internet-based bookstores. A student can find one and purchase it at once. The digital copy of the book will be delivered or sent instantly. It can be downloaded into a file that can be readily accessed and retrieved whenever the student needs to do so.

No one can blame students for preferring to buy from online bookstores. Logically, there is overall convenience because they can be sure they can find and buy the textbooks and editions they need to purchase. Fortunately, many of these types of businesses continue to emerge across the Internet.

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Shop Green by Buying Used Books

Posted by Jules Mariano in Textbooks |        on | Reply

used booksReading might be a luxury, but surely it’s not expensive. Purchasing used books not only saves you money but also saves the environment.

Reading is a luxury that need not be expensive. Generally, purchasing books would seem to be an expensive endeavor. In addition, this is not helping conserve paper as piles of books are disposed after being read.

In times when going green seems to be the fad, buying brand new books does not contribute to being environment-friendly and eco responsive. This doesn’t mean that you should not purchase those edge-of-your-seat reads and best selling novels; there is an alternative.

As a substitute to purchasing new books and big plus to the environment, acquiring used books or used textbooks is definitely more economically appropriate and ecologically accommodating. By doing so, you don’t only help yourself save a lot but you save the environment as well.

There is a big market for used books. In actual fact, the demand for used books for various purposes such as leisurely or academic reading is quite far above the demand for new books. This trends is unwavering since used books are sold at half the price or even lower.

As regards the impact of purchasing new books, this has an adverse effect on the environment. The production of new books entails cutting down a lot of trees to produce high-quality paper. This, in turn, devastates forests and other green lands.

In the production of paper and paper products, the process brings about the use of chemicals to turn raw material into printable papers. After producing paper, waste materials are treated and eventually disposed. The disposal of waste substances contributes to the increase in the dreadful environmental conditions. Untreated waste material from producing books may also be a factor in the increase of illnesses and appalling health conditions.

If you buy used books, these practices will be lessened. Obtaining used books is easy; some bookstores have an area dedicated to such. Moreover, some websites specify that some used books are up for sale at a incredibly low price as compared to a new copy of a certain book. Whether buying online or purchasing in your local bookstore, used books surely would be of help to the green cause and it’s an environmental plus.

With all things considered, buying used books is a greener choice. You might not notice the immediate effect, but the long term outcome will be beneficial to almost everyone. It saves you money and saves the earth! As they say, it’s like hitting two birds with one stone! Go green and go read; reading can be an earth-friendly habit too.

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Tips in Buying Your Textbooks in Online Bookstores

Posted by Jules Mariano in online bookstore |        on | Reply

stack of books in bookstore

  • For first time buyers in online bookstores, the experience is quite different because of the many options available.
  • To find the best deals online, this article shares 7 simple steps to buying textbooks in online bookstores.

Online bookstores are offering students an easier and more cost-effective option to buying textbooks other than their campus or neighborhood bookstores. They are luring students who are looking to find better deals and more convenient shopping, using just your computer or laptop and having their books delivered to their doorstep.

Yes, online bookstores can give you a better buying experience, but take note of these tips as they will help you make the most of buying online:

  • Know the ISBN number of your book. Most online bookstores will need this information in order to find your book. The ISBN number is unique to your book, right up to the correct edition. Referring to this number eliminates possible errors and incorrect purchases in the end. Once you receive the list of books you need next semester make sure you also have this very important number.
  • Use price comparison sites. There are websites that will make online buying easier for you – instead of searching for deals per site, they will do the search for you. This is a great way to check many different options with literally just one click of your mouse.
  • Double check the online bookstore’s reputation. Sometimes, the deal just seems too good to be true. And maybe it is – make sure that if you buy online, you also make sure that you buy from a reputable site. Look for buyer feedback or even blogs that list recommend online bookstore to ensure you and your money is safe from scammers.
  • Become a member. Most sites will ask you to list as a member, but will offer perks in return – either giving free shipping, discounts or rewards for buying. You might even be able to sign up for email alerts, handy when you are searching for an in-demand book.
  • Buy in bulk. If you need 3-5 books for the next semester, look into buying them in one site only. This might yield to discounts, savings made in one shipping or other perks. Look for sites that will give you more if you buy more.
  • Incorporate shipping costs. An online bookstore across the country might give you lower prices, but that might be eaten up by tax or shipping costs. When you search for books online, make sure you type in your zip code so you can also calculate for shipping. Remember, books are heavy and it might cost you a lot to ship.
  • Be early. By starting early with your search, you can find more options and discover better ones out there. You also do not run the risk of running out of stocks.

There you go – seven simple steps that will help you start buying textbooks online. These online bookstores might end up being your ticket to bigger savings down the road.

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Course Ratings at BookGator

Posted by Jules Mariano in BookGator |        on | Reply

student grade distribution chartManaging academic tasks is a challenge to most students. Traditional notebooks and computer spreadsheets are used before as a means to record data about course descriptions and course ratings. Now, with the availability of new technologies in education students are presented with more options which allow them to take control of their control of their academic life as a whole.

Recently, we have redesigned BookGator to include some of the recent changes we have in our service offering yet remained focus to what we have envisioned to support. Aside from course ratings we are looking into increasing our support for course planning among teachers and policy makers in colleges and universities as well as documenting professor reviews.

Now, you can search for the name of a certain professor rate his teaching style and leave comment about his or her overall teaching qualification. You can also check for specific courses rate its level of difficulty along with the instructor teaching the class and the textbook used.

You will love how functional these new tools are so we invite you to sign up and create a BookGator account today to start using the features. If you run into problems and need additional assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us through our twitter account username @book_gator.

How to Pack Textbooks for Buyback

Posted by Jules Mariano in Textbook Buyback |        on | Reply

textbook buyback lady holding a bookTextbooks sent for buyback are at risk of being damaged during transit. Here are some tips to help you keep their good condition by packing them correctly.

Textbook buybacks are highly anticipated by students looking to make some money from old college textbooks. With books increasing every year in price, this is the only way for them to recover some of the money they spent on those books.

In the past, students only participated in buybacks initiated by their school or the campus and neighborhood bookstores. Though they are still good venues to sell your textbooks, the number of books they actually buy back are limited, owing to the smaller market and therefore, less demand for those books. Worse, if a professor decides to use another book for a popular subject, then they might not even buy back your old textbooks. This is the reason why more and more students are looking to sell their old books online, where online bookstores have wider reach and bigger demand for books.

When you sell your books online, you have to send your books in order to be assessed before you are paid. As with the neighborhood store, quality is key. The books must be in good enough condition to be resold again. Here are some ways to make sure that your books arrive in great condition to get you a higher price for them:

  • Choose a sturdy box, and reinforce it. Books are not light, and therefore, you need to send them in a box that will not give way to the weight of the books. Seal it even more by wrapping the edges with packaging tape. Make sure that the box will withstand the handling during shipping, and by wrapping it with packaging tape, will protect it a little from a little water.
  • Send the books complete. If your books came with some extra learning materials like CDs, including them when you sell the book ensures a higher payout for you. Sometimes these CDs have content that is not found in the books, making it vital that you include them.
  • Use bubble wrap when packing – Do not ever use newspaper to wrap your books, as the ink might transfer to your book. Instead, use bubble wrap, which also adds another layer of protection between your book and the box. Remember, mint condition books fetch higher, so bubble wrap helps you keep your books in pristine condition.
  • Pack tightly. When you pack books with a lot of loose space inside, then your books will slide about during shipping, causing damage to them. Make sure you choose a box that’s not too big for the books, and fill the extra space (newspaper is OK so long as the books are already wrapped in bubble wrap). Some pack one book per box, to reduce the extra spaces.
  • Include a packing slip inside. In the rare case that your book is taken out of your box, then they can still identify who owns the book and where to send it.

In short, these books are your ticket to money for the next semester, make sure to keep their good condition when you sell them.

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How Does Open Source Textbook Work

Posted by Jules Mariano in Textbooks |        on , | Reply

textbook with open education textOpen source textbooks are more accessible and are cheaper than traditional books. Here are ways how those open learning resources work.

The so-called open educational resources system has emerged to respond to the challenges of increasing textbook prices. Open source textbooks, particularly, have been introduced to provide greater and easier access to required and high-quality learning resources. Fortunately, those books have been complemented by proliferation of different e-reading devices and the trend in electronic publishing. One good example is California Open Source Textbook Project.

Traditional copyright is known as the main hindrance for making traditional textbooks more accessible and cheaper. As copyright holders, major publishing houses retain the rights to their books. In an open license, those restrictions are eliminated, making open source textbooks literally ‘open’ to all educators and students. How do they work?

Creation of open textbooks

Authors who are motivated by the belief that educational content should be made ‘open’ or more accessible to students write open source textbooks. They may work in coordination with other authors, educators, editors, layout designers, and publishers to produce open textbooks. They may receive compensations from academic departments of schools or financial support from grants.

In general, open source publishing is not lucrative and may not match profitability of commercial or major publishers. That is because the outputs created are distributed either at much cheaper costs or even for free. Publishing of those books may not be possible without funding from several foundations, sponsors, or government grants.

Moreover, most of the authors, educators, and other members of the creating team may choose to help develop open source books because of the many possible advantages doing so may bring about. First, they may receive compensation albeit minimally from sales. Second, they may generate income advertising revenues that may be within the textbooks. And lastly, involvement in those endeavors may help enhance their own careers.

Accessing the open textbooks

Students need to pay a little cost or sometimes nothing to access open source textbooks online. There may be charges applied for printing or for converting content into specific electronic formats but those amounts can be just a fraction compared to the usual expense of buying traditionally published textbooks.

In the classroom setting, open source books are more advantageous because educators are given the freedom and the power to modify and update content. Even the students can do some modification if it is necessary for them to better understand their lessons. Information from other accurate sources can also be basis for changes and updates to open learning resources.

Open source books can be downloaded in PCs, e-readers, and even some type of smart phones or communication devices. This way, the resources can be retrieved and read anytime of the day, anywhere. Compatibility or convertibility into different formats makes open reference materials more accessible to more students.

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Monochrome and Colored E-Readers, Getting the Right One

Posted by Jules Mariano in eReaders, eTextbooks, and eBooks |        on , | Reply

kindle fire ereaderE-readers are slowly replacing books, newspapers and similar reading materials. There are two kinds of e-readers: monochrome and colored.

Having second thoughts on purchasing an e-reader? It would be best to put things into perspective on why you should get one. Reading is a part of our daily lives; we read newspapers, magazines, books, textbooks, and the likes. Considering these thing that we read, having an e-reader would come in handy. It costs more to get an e-reader than books but the uses and features of such goes simply beyond being a reading tool.

There are a lot of e-reader now in the market, some monochrome and some colored. If you are considering getting one, laying out your purpose should be the first thing to do. Some e-reader are considered tablet computers as well, you can do more with such as it has internet access and installable applications.

If you want a basic one, a monochrome e-reader would suit you well. As have been said by many consumers, a monochrome e-reader gives the same feel of a regular book. It doesn’t have glare as compared to a colored one. Considering colored e-readers, there are some units which are non-glare as well. This surely will make the reading experience richer and entertaining; not to mention lighter since an e-reader is highly portable and space-saving.

Reading magazines and comics is surely fun to do with an e-reader, you can stack everything inside you device and read it on the go without worrying about the bulk. Colored readers should be your choice if you are reading materials that are graphics-heavy; meaning seeing the graphics is a must in your reading.

Buying individuals books in hard copy nowadays is not economical. Summarizing the prices of each book that you want to buy is higher than getting an e-reader. There are a lot of choices for e-reader; you should get one that suits your needs. Some e-reader has internet access and expand it functionality with various applications; but if you don’t need it, opt for the simpler one.

Some would say that an e-reader does not have the same feel as a book or a newspaper. True, but an e-reader goes beyond aesthetics and beefs up on features. You can do the things in an e-reader that you can do in a book such as highlight texts and bookmark. In addition, the search function of a reader is much help when looking for particular parts of the book. Reading a book or news article has the same feel when you read it in a reader because most e-readers are designed not to compromise the reading feel and experience.

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Sites to Get the Best Free Education Online Summary

Posted by Jules Mariano in Textbooks | Reply

women reading booksYou can get a quality education without leaving your desk or sofa and spending a cent on tuition and fees. The article provides you suggestions and information on how to get free education online.

You don’t need to shell out thousands of dollars or to get up off your chair just to get the education that you’re dreaming of. Many colleges and universities offer free education online in the form of written transcripts, video podcasts, and audio lectures. It is also a great way to get more knowledge on a subject of interest that is outside of your profession. So better start up your computer and give your mind some quick tune-ups.

A Harvard Extension School program, Harvard Open Learning Initiative, offers eight free education online courses in their entirety. You read it right, they are free ($50,000 tuition and fees saved). And did we say this free Ivy League education is just a click away?

Home to a linear accelerator and had renovated itself into a major research university in computer science and mathematics in the West Coast, Stanford University launched Stanford on iTunes U, an archive of audio and video content collection from schools, departments, and programs across the university on Apple’s popular iTunes platform.

In October 2002, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) launched MIT-OpenCourseWare (MIT OCW), to put all of the educational materials from its undergraduate- and graduate-level courses online, partly free and openly available to anyone, anywhere. As of November 2011, over 2,080 courses were available online. Now you can go heavy on science and technology without having to break open your piggy bank.

Two or More Schools are Better than One

Okay, you can’t get enough of just one school. But be careful what you wish for ‘cause you might just get them all.

Meet a community of over 250 universities and associated organizations worldwide, the OpenCourseWare Consortium. It commits itself in advancing a free and open digital publication of high quality educational materials for colleges and universities. It’s like having the top professors and college instructors worldwide in one single lecture hall without the need to get up off from your lazy chair. Lectures and educational materials from top universities in Japan, Australia and Hongkong are also included.

Coursera, a for-profit organization, does offer free education online. Classes come from academic powerhouses (imagine Penn, Stanford, Berkeley, Michigan, and Princeton rolled into one) and last from 4 to 12 weeks. It does offer world history, economics, and more though it’s somewhat concentrated on computer science classes.

Many of these courses require books in order to follow the course just like you were a student of the school. You can grab the required books at a fraction of its original cost at BookGator, a social platform where students, instructors, and academia can work together to reduce cost of textbooks online and of education in general.

Not intended to replace formal degree at a reputable degree-granting school, free education online courses are here to serve a number of other needs that traditional schools cannot handle efficiently or effectively.

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