Integrating Publisher Online Resources

Assessing Available Resources

If you are using a textbook that has accompanying online resources and/or a Canvas integration, it is important to assess them before choosing to use them. Instructors should consider the following questions:

1. Are you familiar with the online resources for the textbook?
2. Will students be required to buy a new textbook, or buy access to the publisher’s online site with a login code? If so, are the added resources worth the expense to students of having to purchase a brand-new book (versus a used copy) or a code?
3. Will students need to be able to refer to the course textbook after the course ends? Note that many e-texts with publisher resources have a limited access period that expires at the end of the term; students pay a high price for a book they cannot use later, with no option to buy used or share a book with a peer.
4. Do you intend to use the assessments for a significant percentage of a students grade (ie, more than 20 percent)? Will the assessments be used to grade mastery of the material, and/or as a formative tool to measure student understanding so that assistance can be provided?
5. Are these assessments the main method of assessing student learning? Will they be utilized for the midterm and/or final?

Please consider the quality of materials, learning experience, and expense to students before adopting an e-textbook with online or Canvas resources.

Integrating Resources

Integration of textbook resources varies depending on how the tools will be used, and which company publishes your book. If you decide you want to use publisher resources, please contact our Canvas administrator at canvasadmin@champlain.edu.