Digital Textbook Support
Facilitating the seamless distribution of digital textbooks and providing technical support to both educators and students to enhance the learning experience.
How EduCare Can Help Districts with Digital Course Materials
In today’s educational landscape, the shift towards digital course materials is undeniable. Districts are increasingly allocating a significant portion of their budgets—approximately 80%—toward digital curriculum resources. However, while this transition offers numerous benefits, it also brings challenges that demand attention. Digital support, unfortunately, is often left to teachers and IT staff to manage during critical times of the school year. This not only strains resources but also adds unnecessary pressure on faculty and staff, potentially impacting the overall learning experience.
At EduCare, we understand the pressures districts face in ensuring that digital course materials run smoothly. Our comprehensive Digital Course Material Support Workflow is designed to alleviate this burden, streamline the process, and ensure that both educators and students can focus on what really matters: learning.
Here's a look at how EduCare can assist your district with managing digital course materials effectively and efficiently:
EduCare's Digital Course Material Problem-Solving Flow
Our approach to supporting digital course materials is thorough and proactive, ensuring that every aspect of the process is managed—from adoption and access to troubleshooting and ongoing support.
1. Adoption & Research
Before adopting new digital course materials, EduCare helps districts research and evaluate the best options available. This involves:
Digital evaluation copies: We work with publishers to provide evaluation copies of digital textbooks so teachers and administrators can assess the materials before making decisions.
Multiple platforms when available: We ensure that digital texts are compatible with various platforms (e.g., Google, iOS, or Windows), giving districts flexibility in their device choice.
Pros & limitations: We provide detailed analyses of the pros and limitations of each digital text to help schools make informed decisions.
Best suited for school-issued devices: EduCare ensures the selected materials are optimized for the devices issued to students, ensuring compatibility and smooth integration.
2. Teacher Access Prior to Start of Term
To ensure that teachers are prepared, EduCare provides early access to digital materials, allowing them to get familiar with the content ahead of the school year:
Teacher access prior to term: Teachers are given access to digital materials well in advance of the new term, allowing them time to explore and plan their lessons.
Access for newly adopted texts: If a district adopts a new digital textbook, EduCare ensures that teachers have access before the term begins and, if necessary, arranges training sessions with publishers to guide them through the new platform.
3. Ongoing Access & Training
EduCare ensures that teachers have continued access to materials and receive the necessary training to maximize their use:
Continued access for existing teachers: Teachers who have used digital textbooks in previous terms are given ongoing access, with reminders and updates sent once the PowerSchool schedule is finalized (typically around August 1).
New teacher access: For new teachers or those using a textbook for the first time, EduCare provides access instructions and training, ensuring they’re ready to use the materials effectively.
Training schedules with publishers: If required, EduCare schedules training sessions with publishers to help teachers get up to speed on the digital resources.
4. Student Access & Setup
EduCare ensures that students are prepared to use digital materials from day one:
Student access instructions: Instructions are sent to students to ensure they are aware of how to access their digital textbooks and course materials.
Problem-solving through summer setup: EduCare works through the summer to integrate rosters and prepare for the school year, including roster uploads, test codes, and ensuring that students have access to the digital materials they need.
Summer setup and roster integration: We manage the integration of student rosters into the digital platforms, ensuring seamless access for all students at the start of the school year.
5. Distribution of Digital Texts
To ensure a smooth transition at the start of the school year, EduCare oversees the distribution of digital textbooks:
Two days before the start of school: We ensure that digital materials are distributed to students, taking into account any schedule changes that may occur. Access codes and instructions are sent together, ensuring that students receive only the materials they need for their registered courses.
After initial distribution: EduCare continues to monitor course changes throughout the school year, sending updated access instructions and purchase links for any new or changed digital materials.
School Year Problem-Solving and Ongoing Support
Once the school year begins, EduCare remains a constant partner, ensuring that any digital issues are resolved quickly and efficiently. Our support system is designed to minimize downtime and keep students and teachers focused on their lessons.
Student Support
When students encounter access issues, EduCare responds quickly to resolve them:
Access issues: Most access issues are resolved within 24 hours, often within an hour of the ticket being submitted. Students can reach us via email or our EduCare digital portal (ticketing system).
Reissue faulty codes: If a code is faulty, EduCare will immediately issue a new one, ensuring that students can continue working without disruption.
Publisher support: In cases of licensing issues, EduCare works directly with publishers to resolve problems quickly, keeping both teachers and students informed of the progress.
In-person support: If a problem cannot be solved remotely, EduCare schedules same-day in-person support to ensure minimal disruption to the learning process.
Teacher Support
Teachers often require more complex troubleshooting, especially when it comes to new content or digital platforms. EduCare offers comprehensive teacher support, including:
Access issues: Teachers can reach out for help with any access issues via email or through our ticketing system.
Guidance and troubleshooting: EduCare’s team is available to guide teachers through troubleshooting steps and resolve any issues quickly, minimizing downtime during critical instructional periods.
