Report: College Course Materials Market Moving to a More Digital Future

STAMFORD, Conn., Sept. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The adoption of new technologies is gaining strength and fostering a transformative migration in the market for college course materials. However, there is nothing smooth about this transition currently under way. Textbooks continue to be the material of choice for college students when it comes to deep reading and studying. The stubborn persistence of student preference for print textbooks is troubling to an educational publishing industry trying to transform itself into an educational digital solutions industry.

Simba believes that particular preference will continue to prevail, sustaining the category of print textbooks and keeping it growing at a modest pace. As a result, Simba projects the print textbook category will reach $4.57 billion in 2017, increasing at a 1.6% compound annual growth rate, according to the recently published report Learning in Transition: College Course Materials Market Forecast 2014 by research firm Simba Information.

Despite this modest growth, textbooks are under attack. Yet textbooks remain the primary instructional resource in most courses. Sales of new textbooks continued to be the dominant revenue generator for most publishers in higher education in 2013, and sales of new textbooks continued to be the largest share of the market at an estimated 58.1%, though that share has been shrinking.

eTextbooks have not proved to be the change agent advocates expected. For more than a decade, whenever etextbooks have been introduced there is a flurry of excitement that eventually tapers out. Simba expects etextbooks to remain an alternate format for textbooks.

While digital textbooks are part of the conversation when institutions and publishers look to push the digital experience and cut costs for students, the strongest learning opportunities appear to be in the adaptive texts and resources. The move to adaptive materials to personalize a student's learning experience and as a means to help improve student outcomes has made adaptive technology providers such as Knewton and Area9 Aps extremely sought after.

For more information on Simba's new report, which provides a segmented overview of the entire college course materials market and sales estimates through 2017, visit http://www.simbainformation.com/redirect.asp?progid=86656&productid=8171659 or call 888-29-SIMBA.

About Simba Information
Simba Information is widely recognized as the leading authority for market intelligence in the media and publishing industry. Simba's extensive information network delivers top quality, independent perspective on the people, events and alliances shaping the media and information industry. Simba publishes newsletters and research reports that provide key decision-makers at more than 15,000 client companies around the globe with timely news, analysis, exclusive statistics and proprietary industry forecasts. For more information, please visit www.simbainformation.com.  

Contact:
Kathy Mickey
Senior Analyst, Education Group
Simba Information
203-325-8193 x4002
[email protected]

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SOURCE Simba Information