NewMindsets Launches New Authoring System and “Textbook Of the Future” Project

Toronto, Canada, January 12, 2007 — NewMindsets is pleased to announce the launch of a new authoring system (NMS. Pub) designed to produce a new generation of customizable textbooks and professional development learning kits.

The system allows the creation of broad ecologies of learning resources that can be seamlessly mixed and matched with relevant print, video and other learning material to meet unique instructor and student needs.

Benefits of the approach include:

Slimmer textbooks combining the strengths of online and print-based learning that can be uniquely customized for every learning project.
Flexible “on demand” professional development kits that can be used to execute professional accreditation requirements or serve just in time workplace learning needs.
A system promoting a more collaborative form of “textbook” development through which course instructors can identify and contribute to the construction of new online learning resources

“The traditional textbook industry is facing major challenges” says NewMindsets Chairman, Gareth Morgan. “The bottom line is that the core product is disliked and being rejected by both instructors and students — because of its lack of flexibility and user friendliness. Most college and university instructors prefer to produce photocopied course packs instead of using a core textbook, and the used text market makes it extremely difficult to sustain sales at a profitable level even when textbook adoption is achieved. We have a corporate earthquake in the making. Something has to change.

The NewMindsets approach can serve instructors that wish to continue using their personal photocopied course packs by providing a new online dimension of complementary learning resources and help established publishers (or new companies wishing to enter this potentially huge market) by reinventing the core product. We have proved our new authoring and publishing concept in relation to the leadership and management education field and are in a position to extend the approach to a wide range of new content areas.

Wikipedia and the open source movement have opened the way to new collaborative ventures that can promote valuable information sharing. Our aim in the “textbook of the future” initiative is to help move the process to a new level of pedagogical sophistication that will produce outstanding learning experiences across a broad range of disciplines and learning projects.”

About NewMindsets

NewMindsets is a ‘second-generation’ e-learning resource production company based in Toronto, Canada. After several years offering customized learning services to organizations in higher education, business, government and healthcare it has now extended its services to include the customized textbook industry.

Contact:

Brenda Turgeon,
NewMindsets Inc.
4800 Dundas Street West, Suite 105
Toronto, Ontario M9A 1B1
Telephone: 416-233-3737
Fax: 416-233-7698
E-mail: info@newmindsets.com
http://www.newmindsets.com

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