What About Books? Understanding Course Materials in Online Degree Programs

Books are an integral component of any academic program. Lectures and interaction with fellow students add to the learning experience, books are required (and expected) as a part of the curriculum. Unlike brick-and-mortar counterparts, online degree programs have greater flexibility in the delivery of course materials. Some programs allow students to order books through an online store and have the books shipped to them, though this does require planning on the student’s part to ensure that the required materials arrive in time to meet class deadlines. A student who waits until the last minute could find himself or herself at a severe disadvantage, and given the rapid pace of online coursework, a student could quickly fall behind.

Other schools offer online delivery of books, either through custom course delivery websites or third-party vendors. In fact, many companies have taken advantage of portable document formats to create entire business divisions that deliver electronic versions of academic texts (often referred to as “E-books”). These allow for immediate fulfillment of orders, so procrastinating students can wait until the last minute to order and download the required texts. Electronic reading materials also allow a student (with the appropriate software and knowledge) to mark-up text to meet specific needs, bookmark critical pages, and even add lengthy notes to expand on text material without damaging the text. Such materials also allow for rapid searching of key concepts or phrases. If necessary, a hard-copy of the text (or a portion thereof) is only as far away as the student’s printer. Better still, some companies offer free electronic versions with the purchase of the hard-copy of material, providing the student with the benefits of both deliveries.

There are some things to consider when dealing with electronic course materials. First, I strongly suggest creating separate directories for all downloaded course material; I went so far as to further segregate materials by individual course, to include articles and publications that I downloaded for research purposes. Secondly, make a backup of any course materials purchased or obtained electronically. Some materials can be downloaded again in the event of a computer failure or file corruption, but some of the purchased materials only contain license for use on a single computer. I know that some companies allow for an additional download if the student contacts the customer service department, but this will typically result in a 24-hour delay (at a minimum), and may still lead to problems later on in obtaining the materials. Even backup copies may not necessarily transfer to another system, depending on the copyright protection included within the material. While electronic materials are typically less expensive, the student owns that copy, and cannot resell or transfer the rights once the class ends. There are not any stores that specialize in the purchase and resale of used “E-books,” at least not any of which I am aware.

With any degree program, the student will be expected to achieve some research objectives. Many schools offering online degrees also provide rather extensive electronic libraries to aid in research. Personally, I would suggest using a combination of online resources and physical publications (either obtained through periodical subscriptions, newspapers, or local libraries). This helps to expand the available resources, but, more importantly, it brings the student closer to experiencing traditional research techniques and academic experiences. Regardless of the school or program, expect course materials to be an important part of your learning experience.