Educational Materials

Field Definition

Basic Definition

The Field of Educational Materials refers to a subset of the book, internet, and software publishing industries that is focused on providing resources to a variety of educational markets. This generally includes textbooks and course materials like coursepacks, supplementary reading, and games and activities.

Taxonomy of Educational Materials Industries

Focus Market Segments

• K-12 Textbooks and Course Materials (Elhi)
• College Textbooks and Course Materials
• University Press
  • i.e. Non-textbook academic and professional works used in college courses

Deprioritized Market Segments

• Educational Software
  • Internet-based activities (in Flash, Java, etc.)
  • Educational Games

Excluded from Field Definition

• Encyclopedias
• Periodicals
• Any resource not overtly produced for educational purposes
  • i.e. Flickr photos and YouTube videos used in media education

Study of the field

Analysis of the EM field based on Field Research Methodology:

1. Overview of Economics of Intellectual Property in EM
2. Overall Picture of the EM field
3. Outputs and Products of the field: Data, narratives and tools produced by the EM field
4. Legal tools available for and in use by the actors of EM field: IP in EM
5. Competitive advantages in EM
6. IP Profile of Biggest for-profit companies in EM
7. IP Profile of non-profit companies in EM
8. IP Profile of Universities working in EM
9. IP Profile of Associations in EM
10. Commons-based Cases in EM
11. Alternative Business Models in EM

Resources

Bibliographies Addressing Research Outline

Bibliography for Item 1 in EM
Bibliography for Item 2 in EM
Bibliography for Item 3 in EM
Bibliography for Item 4 in EM
Bibliography for Item 5 in EM
Bibliography for Item 6 in EM
Bibliography for Item 7 in EM
Bibliography for Item 8 in EM
Bibliography for Item 9 in EM
Bibliography for Item 10 in EM
Bibliography for Item 11 in EM

Links

Links on EM

Blogs and news from the field

Blogs to watch on EM

Interviews

Possible candidates for interviews:

1. Jonathan Emmons
   • Community Development Specialist, Connexions (http://cnx.org)
   • Phone: (713) 348 - 2392
   • Email: jonathan.emmons@cnx.org
   • Conference Call Scheduled for 10am EDT on Monday, 03/25/09
     • Jonathan Emmons Interview Notes
2. Anita Elberse
   • Associate Professor of Business Administration in the Marketing unit at Harvard Business School
   • Her research focuses on 'creative industries,' such as book and magazine publishing, asking:
     • How can firms increase the success of new products in creative industries?
     • How can firms build sustainable businesses in creative industries?
   • Phone: (617) 495 - 6080
   • Email: aelberse@hbs.edu
3. Nicole Allen
   • Textbooks Advocate for The Student PIRGs and Campaign Director for Make Textbooks Affordable
   • Phone: (617) 747 - 4409
   • Email: nicole@studentpirgs.org
4. Joel Thierstein
   • Executive Director, Connexions (http://cnx.org)
   • Email: joel.thierstein@cnx.org
   • Proposed interview/call for week of 04/13/09

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