Digital Directions: Subject-Specific Solutions

Second, publishers must observe, engage with, and if appropriate retain leading educators within each subject domain, to help develop not only the scope and sequence of course content, but also to capture and reflect the most relevant engaging modes of delivery for that subject area.

Leading educators will typically be the first to see and understand the most relevant ways to use new modes of technology-based delivery to support teaching and learning within their given domains. Educators will have this understanding before publishers or technologists do. The strategic value of the acquisitions function for educational publishers is to establish relationships with such leading educators and reflect their approaches in published offerings. While this may require different approaches, platforms and delivery models for different subject domains, the result will be more successful and effective offerings.

Andrew Brenneman is founder of Finitiv. Since 2008, Finitiv has provided the book publishing industry with consulting services and technology solutions.