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 * Electronic Textbooks for Region 5**


 * I wrote this letter to publishers:**

Good Afternoon,

I am the Textbook Coordinator for Region 5 Education Service Center in Beaumont, Texas. My region center serves about 31 area schools. During our most recent Technology Coordinator’s meeting, many local schools inquired about moving to some sort of electronic device for textbooks in the next year or two. They are considering the simple E-Readers (e.g. Kindle and Nook) but most are considering iPads or Android devices (such as the Motorola Xoom and Samsung Galaxy Tab). They have asked me to contact the publishing companies to explore what device(s) would be best for the type of e-textbooks companies will be publishing. As of now, I realize that most of the textbook publishers offer there text in .pdf form along with the paper copies. All of the aforementioned products read that type of file currently. I assume textbook publishers are creating new content for tablets and other electronic devices. The questions are: Will your new textbooks have multimedia such as pictures, videos, and audio? If so, what will be the format of the content (i.e. what type of files)? Will you be willing to allow local schools to preview your upcoming programs on some tablets?

Please contact me with this information. I believe that many of the schools would be very willing to use your company’s products if they are able to look at how they would work on tablets.

Thank you,

**__Houghton Mifflin Harcourt__** Mr. Tritico,
 * These are the responses:**

Thanks for your inquiry. We are currently producing new content for a variety of devices including I-Pad, Nook, Kindle, and Samsung Galaxy tablets. The catch for Texas however is that our e-reader content is generally the newest books, not the same versions that are in use in TX. However, in many cases the new programs would be compatible with, if not exactly the same as, the versions that TX is using. For example, our FUSE I-Pad app is based on the Holt Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 books authored by Ed Burger that were adopted throughout the state during the last high school math adoption. You can access more information about Fuse at this link:

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There is a preview chapter of Fuse available for downloading free from the I-tunes store.

Our elementary reading and secondary literature programs that are e-reader compatible are aligned to Common Core standards being used nationally. These will differ more from the Texas versions adopted last year, but we will do an alignment to TEKS if a district is considering the purchase of these.

The easiest way for a Texas district to access online content that is compatible with the print books in use in classrooms now is to use the online books that are PDF format. Many of the older copyrights for science, social studies, and math do have websites with PDF formats. Some of the interactive features would not be accessible on e-readers or I-Pads, but much of the content would be usable. The online books will be provided free to districts that adopted the print programs for the life of the contract plus any extensions. After the state contract expires, there may be a nominal charge for continued access.

We are developing content for multiple platforms and our goal in the future is to be device agnostic with our newer programs. Hopefully some folks in Texas will still be able to afford to purchase them! I hope this information is helpful and please let me know if you need anything more.

Sincerely,

Eve Myers Southwest Region Vice President 281 513 2828 eve.myers@hmhpub.com

Will your new textbooks have multimedia such as pictures, videos, and audio? **Yes, we have all of the above.**
 * __Adaptive Curriculum__ **

If so, what will be the format of the content (i.e. what type of files)? **Our lessons run on flash.**

Will you be willing to allow local schools to preview your upcoming programs on some tablets?

Please use the following USER ID and passwords to access Adaptive Curriculum math and science.

To access the Adaptive Curriculum site, click on the URL below: Please let me know if you need additional information. If you want more logins, just choose any number between 200-500 –i.e. mockingbird400, password science400. ( Just make sure the numbers match for ID and password. All lower case, no spaces.)

[]

USER ID: mockingbird350

PASSWORD: science350

Click on BROWSE at the top of the page

Click on STATE STANDARDS to the left

Click on the + sign to the left of SCIENCE Click on the + sign to the left of 2009 TEKS You will see the content area for HS and MS

You can also click on the PLAN icon and choose content from the drip down menu to view content.

Also, below is additional information about what we have to offer your district in addition to the online resource.

Fully Approved by TEA for All Courses and Grade Levels

(Grades 5-8, Biology, Chemistry, IPC, Physics)

 With this adoption you will receive:

1) Teacher, Administrator, and student upload and logins ( we will set up classes for you) 2) 100% student interaction 3) 100% alignment to the TEKS follow this link: [] 4) Ability to add your own material to the lesson plan assignments 5) We work with all interactive white boards, Sky, Moodle, Blackboard

Also an extra added value at no cost to you: 1) Complementary version Spanish for grades 5-12 2) Face to Face Professional development to ensure your successful implementation 3) Spanish parent guides

Student cost is only $8 a student for our science MS/HS content. You can add math 6-12 for $2 a student per year.

I hope you will take a look and please let me know how I can help you further. Kindest Regards,

Deb Beavers 254-495-2827 deb.beavers@adaptivecurriculum.com

__**McGraw-Hill **__

Thank you for contacting us. McGraw-Hill’s new textbook copyrights, 2013 and on, will be created in HTML 5 which will make our programs device agnostic. Our older copyrights that are currently being used in Texas, such as Macmillan’s Texas Treasures, Texas Mathematics (K-12), Social Studies 2002-2003, are for the most part done in flash and would be limited to the android devices. Our new Glencoe/McGraw-Hill CINCH Science for Texas is device agnostic, and the ONLY program in the supplemental science adoption that is device agnostic for both teachers and students.

The most beneficial device for educators is going to be an android device because your students will not be limited to only “new” content. They can take advantage of existing adopted programs and the online technology that was included with those adoptions. In the time of economic uncertainty and state’s school budget situation, I think it would be important for districts to have a device that would maximize content availability.

To answer your specific questions: Will your new textbooks have multimedia such as pictures, videos, and audio? Yes, new McGraw-Hill digital textbooks will filled with multimedia with videos and audio. If so, what will be the format of the content (i.e. what type of files )? The eBook will be HTML 5. There are times that a flash video file will be used and will only be able to be viewed on a Flash Enabled tablet (such as an android). Will you be willing to allow local schools to preview your upcoming programs on some tablets? Texas specific programs, that align to the TEKS, are not usually released until the State calls for an adoption, which we know has been postponed until 2014. Right now districts can preview our CINCH Science for Texas Supplemental Science adoption offering. Also, any previously adopted program will work on an android tablet and we could assist districts in getting that set up. During adoption preview periods, we will allow teachers to preview our new programs; it will be part of the “sampling” process.

My opinion: I have found the NOOKColor to be a very economical option for schools. While the processing speed is much slower than more expensive tablets, it does support Flash and is $249. Amazon has just announced their updated Kindle, called the Kindle Fire. They are promoting the Kindle Fire to be fast, support Adobe Flash and for only $199. Since it was just announced, I have not “played” with it yet. The Motorola Xoom has been discontinued. Right now you can get them cheap, but I would worry about replacing them down the line. The Samsung Galaxy and Blackberry PlayBook are both excellent android devices, however, they carry a hefty price tag (haven’t heard of any educational discounts yet.) And that brings us to the iPad. I love the iPad, but feel it limits educators because it does not support flash.

If I can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely, McGraw-Hill School Education Group│National eConsultant│K-12 Educational Technology ( 817).357.0326
 * Tamara Childress **

Please see our responses to your questions regarding electronic textbooks. If you have any additional questions, please let us know.

Will your new textbooks have multimedia such as pictures, videos, and audio?

Yes, McGraw-Hill is creating new programs that are in a variety of formats. Districts may select an all digital program, an all print program, or a hybrid program which is a combination of both print and digital.

If so, what will be the format of the content (i.e. what type of files)?

The file types we use are .swf. Other files used are pdf, mp4, and we also use HTML5. Though we are transitioning away from Flash, we still have a number of assets that are flash based.

Will you be willing to allow local schools to preview your upcoming programs on some tablets?

We will allow schools to preview our program on tablets and look forward to that opportunity.


 * Thanks **
 * Jennifer **
 * ___ **


 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Candara','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Jennifer Ivy **


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Candara','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Houston Area Sales Rep ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Candara','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">| **McGraw-Hill School Education Group**

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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">__** Discovery Education **__

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">Good afternoon. The answers to your questions are below:

Will your new textbooks have multimedia such as pictures, videos, and audio?

- Yes. The Techbook, our current Science Core Resource adopted in FL, IN and LA as a full Textbook replacement has virtual labs, extensive video, audio files and pictures. This was also adopted in Texas as a 5-8 supplemental resource. If so, what will be the format of the content (i.e. what type of files)? - Right now, all interactives are coded for flash. We plan to have everything coded for iPads in the next 6 months. Will you be willing to allow local schools to preview your upcoming programs on some tablets? - We would be happy to have schools preview the service. Katy ISD has been using something like it from us for a couple of years on Android phones and it works great. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Let me know how we can help.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Brett Felten <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Director - Techbook <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Discovery Education <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> 401 North Michigan Ave <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Suite 3000 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> Chicago, IL 60611 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> P: 312.894.3808 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> C: 312.415.3101

__** Pearson **__

We recommend that schools use digital tablets rather than e-readers. Our programs include pictures and multi-media, and I think that's essential for students to be engaged. A text-only reader like Kindle and Nook is less expensive, but it would limit what a student can learn in biology or math due to the format limitations. Amazon announced a $199 tablet, the Kindle Fire, which looks like a potential viable rival for ipad so we will study that as well.

For 2011, we're supporting iPad and looking at supporting the Android tablets.

We will allow samples of the eTexts for the iPad so that districts can evaluate them.

Hope this helps.

Raymond


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 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">Raymond Ward **

<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">Vice President Southwest

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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">Direct: 214-524-5802

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 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">Pearson **

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