XanEdu and Flat World Knowledge Partner to Lower the Cost of College Course Materials

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- XanEdu Publishing, Inc., a leading innovator of customizable course materials, and Flat World Knowledge, the largest publisher of expert-authored and peer-reviewed open college textbooks, announced today that they are partnering to offer a flexible way for educators to provide students with low-cost textbook and course pack alternatives.

The partnership addresses the growing need for affordable course content that professors can easily customize to better fit their teaching and course requirements.  The two companies are integrating Flat World's MIYO (Make It Your Own) customization platform with XanEdu's Folio-X e-learning platform for third party content.  Educators now have the ability to pair selections from Flat World's catalog of open textbooks with any other third party content.  

"Flat World Knowledge has a unique and progressive business model focused on high-value content at low cost," said Alar Elken, Chief Executive Officer, XanEdu Publishing, Inc. "Our combined vision is to extend this value proposition to customers in ways that dramatically streamline the aggregation process and reduce the cost of highly personalized textbook alternatives. In addition, our combined customers will have the option to transform Flat World content into dynamic, interactive and engaging digital experiences that enhance learning, encourage collaboration, and improve learning outcomes.  We're excited to be working with a partner that values customer choice, flexibility and active integration." 

XanEdu will provide the aggregation and copyright clearance services of the third party content, and then package and deliver the course materials to students in a variety of popular formats, including XanEdu's award-winning Folio-X e-learning platform for the iPad and Android tablets.  

"I have always admired XanEdu's commitment to personalized courses, and their ability to work with faculty to ensure that their course materials really match instruction," said Jeff Shelstad, CEO and Co-Founder of Flat World Knowledge. "Flat World's focus on personalization complements XanEdu's, and our flexible content will better support their efforts worldwide."

Educators often combine textbook chapters with a variety of third-party sources, including journal and newspaper articles, cases, multimedia and personal lecture notes. Professors need flexible and easily accessible content choices from a variety of disparate sources combined with copyright clearance services and innovative delivery options that meet the needs of today's mobile students.

The combined XanEdu-Flat World solution is currently available to educators by calling 1-800-218-5971 option 6 or requesting an estimate at http://www2.xanedu.com/low-cost.  The two companies plan to have a more advanced online integration completed by the summer of 2012.

Both companies will be speaking and exhibiting at the CAMEX Campus Market Expo 2012, March 2-6 at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, UT. Visit XanEdu at booth #1623 and Flat World Knowledge at booth #3223 in the New Exhibitor Area.  Also see us at:

Future Growth with Digital Delivery, Print-on-Demand Technology, and Open Textbooks
Fri., March 2 12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m.
Room: 151 ABC
Block: 2 Session: 2-9
Jeff Shelstad, co-presenter

Product Spotlight featuring XanEdu and Flat World Knowledge
Saturday, March 3, 2012 from 2:30 p.m.– 3:45 p.m.
Room: Ballroom Section H

In addition, XanEdu and Flat World Knowledge are sponsors of the NACS Media Solutions "Grow Custom" initiative that is offering new and viable custom publishing options sold through college bookstores.

About XanEdu
Founded in 1999, XanEdu delivers innovative print and digital custom course materials and textbooks, which are 100% copyright compliant, and accessible on iPad and Android tablets.  XanEdu received a Campus Technology 2011 Innovators Award for its XanEdu iPad app as part of the Folio-X e-learning platform.   Faculty, academic programs, bookstores and students all turn to XanEdu for quality, convenience and innovation.  XanEdu publishes over 15,000 titles at over 2,000 institutions annually.  To learn more, visit www.xanedu.com, call 800-218-5971, follow us on Twitter @xanedu, find us on Facebook at facebook.com/xanedu, and read our Digital NeXus blog at blog.xanedu.com.

About Flat World Knowledge
Founded in 2007, Flat World Knowledge is the largest publisher of open college textbooks for students worldwide. Our mission is to use technology and innovative business models to lower costs, increase access and personalize learning worldwide. Our expert-authored and peer-reviewed textbooks are available in a wide range of low-cost print and digital formats, including a free online version. Flat World Knowledge Partnerships gives senior administrators an easy way to deliver course materials at the institution and system-wide level through a per-student, per-course license.  To date, Flat World textbooks are used at over 2,000 colleges in 44 countries.  To learn more, visit http://www.flatworldknowledge.com; follow us on Twitter @flat_world; and on Facebook at facebook.com/flatworldknowledge.

SOURCE XanEdu Publishing, Inc.