Rafter™ 101:
Education Content Management
- Save students and schools billions of dollars of cash and financial aid.
- Help more students graduate.
- Provide a manageable path for innovative digital content to emerge.
- Higher Education and
Course MaterialsUNIT: 01 - The world changes:
Course Materials 2000 – 2010UNIT: 02 - 2013 and Beyond: A New Vision
for Education Content ManagementUNIT: 03
Education is Expensive
The problem: As many as 50% of college students don’t finish a degree due to the high cost of college.
Students are dropping out
40% of 4 year and 80% of 2 year college
students don’t finish. They cite cost. Tuition is rising
Declining funding has driven up tuition, forcing
schools to pass on higher costs to their students.
40% of 4 year and 80% of 2 year college
students don’t finish. They cite cost. Tuition is rising
Declining funding has driven up tuition, forcing
schools to pass on higher costs to their students.
Where Do Course Materials Fit?
Course materials are the second highest college cost – as much as 40% of the total price tag for a degree.
Cost of course materials rise
Textbooks rise four times faster
than inflation. For a 2yr college,
course materials
are 42% of the
cost of a student’s
education.
Textbooks rise four times faster
than inflation. For a 2yr college,
course materials
are 42% of the
cost of a student’s
education.
Course Materials Impact Educational Outcomes
97% of educators say course materials are critical to success,but as many as 70% of students report not purchasing them because of costs.
97% of educators say
that course materials
are critical. 70% of students
report not buying
some of their
course materials.
that course materials
are critical. 70% of students
report not buying
some of their
course materials.
Old School: Historic Trends in Course Materials
For decades, used books from the campus bookstore were a student's best option for reducing the price of course materials.Emergence of eCommerce
Amazon, Half and others offer easy, visible, lower cost options on used textbooks.Nearly a quarter of all students start buying books online.
Textbook Rentals Emerge
Rentals further lower the cost of textbooks by up to 80%. Millions of students flock to new model. New technology companies offer even moreoptions for students to find affordable textbooks.
Digital: The New Frontier
Complexity increases as hundreds of new content and technology partners vie for a place in academia. Students need a way to navigatecost and complexity as the long tail
of educational content emerges.
Retain Control Over Course Materials
Schools that retain complete control over course materials graduate more students. Managing course materials is a hallmark of astrong educational institution
Step One:
Bring Rentals to Campus
Bringing the best of the online experience to campus.
Students get the pricing of an online vendor with
the benefit of local convenience. Rentals are the new "USED"
As rentals quickly gain in popularity, buyback
options shrink, cutting off a major source of
affordable used books.
the benefit of local convenience. Rentals are the new "USED"
As rentals quickly gain in popularity, buyback
options shrink, cutting off a major source of
affordable used books.
Step Two:
Create an Efficient Supply Chain for Content on Campus
To offer more and more affordable options, schools need access to lower cost supply.
Schools often pay
above market prices to
acquire inventory from
suppliers, making them
non-competitive. What if schools and
companies could buy
and sell used
textbooks via an
efficient new market
with huge selection
and lower prices?
above market prices to
acquire inventory from
suppliers, making them
non-competitive. What if schools and
companies could buy
and sell used
textbooks via an
efficient new market
with huge selection
and lower prices?
Step three:
Education content is changing rapidly, and schools
need a simple way to manage the adoption and
distribution of innovative content to campus.
Supporting the Future of Digital Content
An open ecosystem for the creation, discovery, and distribution of all forms educational content on campus. Diversity of ContentEducation content is changing rapidly, and schools
need a simple way to manage the adoption and
distribution of innovative content to campus.
A Modern Education Content Ecosystem:
Open, Effective, Affordable