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Major textbook publisher Pearson will scale back its production of printed materials and focus more on publishing digital textbooks.
During this shift, Pearson’s textbooks will be published in the form of e-books instead of print. The e-books will be updated instantly to incorporate new developments in an area of study and even new formatting and layout. Pearson will also come up with feedback and videos for students.
This is a big step for the London-based company, which is known for being the leading provider of printed academic textbooks in the United States. In fact, Pearson currently offers around 1,500 textbooks that cover various subjects in colleges and universities.
Pearson’s printed textbooks are often revised, updated, and reprinted only every two to three years. Each new release costs 12% more than the previous edition. As a result, US students end up spending an average of $1,200 for textbooks alone.
Pearson CEO John Fallon explained that the shift to digital is the company’s response to students who want cheaper and more accessible textbooks. The new e-books cost $40, and getting access to other digital learning tools is worth $79. Students who still prefer using physical books can rent one from the company for around $60.
Some educators are not too thrilled with Pearson’s decision. They said that e-books might alienate some professors who still like using physical textbooks. They added that low battery levels, losing access to online accounts, and poor Internet connection are not a concern when using printed books.
Pearson clarified that it will still publish and update new print editions of its textbooks but only when necessary.