This semester, Wichita State University is one of 28 schools across the nation providing free access to an electronic textbook to a limited number of its students.

As participants in the Educause and Internet2 eText pilot, nearly 800 students in 16 different courses taught by eight faculty members will receive a free electronic copy of their textbook for the semester.

This round of the pilot is limited to McGraw-Hill texts delivered via the Courseload web-based ereader. Courseload allows students not only to highlight text and annotate the eText, but also allows faculty and students to share notes and highlights with one another, paving the way for a more social engagement with the etext.

At the end of the fall semester, the students and faculty participants’ use and experiences will be evaluated and shared, not only with the WSU community, but also nationally and globally via a report from Educause and Internet2. The report will be distributed sometime in early 2013.

WSU’s participation in the eText pilot is co-sponsored by the Office of the Provost and Office of the Chief Information Officer.

For more information about the nationwide pilot, go to http://www.internet2.edu/netplus/etext/index.html or contact Mark D. Porcaro at mark.porcaro@wichita.edu or (316) 978-7787.