College-Cram.com

Fort Worth Alarm Systems

2009-08-17T14:29:00.000-07:00

It isn't hard to find names of companies who do residential alarms and security monitoring, just take a look at the lawns in any neighborhood and you'll find signs for them. Makes you wonder, though, whether these cookie-cutter companies provide security for the high-dollar homes in some of the ritzier areas of town. Somehow I doubt it...

I have to think, for those with the means to do so, wealthier residents and businesses who want to be secure will deal with custom alarm installers. Folks like Universal Electronics of Hurst do that sort of thing, along with alarm monitoring. They really know their stuff.

Building Momentum

2008-08-05T11:37:00.000-07:00

A year ago we unveiled the new re-designed College-Cram, incorporating social networking features into the learning resources to create a true social learning environment.

Since then, we've seen tremendous growth -- over half a million visitors over the past twelve months, with more visitors this summer than all of the fall semester combined. This is thanks to great SEO work by our developers and inbounds links to our social learning resources from places like:

University of North Carolina's finance learning objects.
Rogue Community College's e-learning tools,
Mesabi Range's math resources,

Real Estate Investor Tools

2008-03-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

With the current credit crunch and increasing housing market troubles, real estate investors need the right tools now more than ever. One of the best real estate investor tools for figuring out the precise amount to bid for a property is MyTurboBidder.com

With MyTurboBidder.com, you can enter the pertinent information such as square footage, comps, and estimated repairs to determine the best possible bid to enable you to reach your profit goal. Invented by a full-time successful real estate investor, MyTurboBidder.com will help you maximize your profits and avoid properties that just don't add up.

Check out this great real estate investor tool for yourself.

SEO Services

2008-01-01T06:47:00.000-08:00

Looking for a proven SEO expert? Need someone to take on your search engine optimization project? Want a company offering SEO Services that actually work? Check out The Smartacus Corporation for your search engine optimization, SEO services, and other web development needs.

December 2007 Newsletter

2007-12-11T15:36:00.000-08:00

Finals are almost here, as are the end-of-year holidays. We have something to help with both!

The end is in sight,
Professor Cram

Custom-made Cramlets Just For You!
Lorna, a UK student taking Spanish, created some vocabulary lists in her Notebook. We took those lists and made her flashcard Cramlets to help her study. (Check out her flashcards under LORNA, and our custom Cramlets under SPANISH.) Want your own Cramlets to help you study for finals? Create your own Notebook entries and we'll jump right on it!

New Student Communities
Get help with your finals and your holiday parties with the latest College-Cram communities like Study Hall and Cooking and Recipes. Join in the dialog and make this your best year ever!

What are other students talking about?
Read what other students are blogging about in Top five we are going to hell movies, the problems with government's approach to taxes, and Iran, Iraq, and 30 years of conflict. Comment on these or start your own blog today!

Connexions Resources

2007-12-11T15:35:00.001-08:00

Connexions (cnx.org) is a repository of learning modules and collections that has gotten some good press of late. It is popular with instructors and students alike, very much like my favorite social learning site.

Check out these great college study resources for your enjoyment.

Holiday Dessert Recipe

2007-12-11T15:09:00.000-08:00

Everybody needs a great holiday dessert recipe, and I found some great recipes for your enjoyment this holiday season.

More MERLOT resources

2007-10-30T08:45:00.000-07:00

Ran across this site a while back, it has a bunch of learning resources of all kinds. If you're studying financial ratios, here are two collections that should help:

Study debt management ratios
Study asset management ratios

These collections have lots of help including tutorials on each of the ratios (days sales outstanding ratio, fixed assets turnover ratio, inventory turnover ratio, total asset turnover ratio, debt ratio, debt to equity ratio, EBITDA coverage ratio, equity multiplier ratio, and TIE ratio) study sheets for getting ready at exam time.

Enjoy!

MERLOT: A cool site for resources

2007-10-03T15:00:00.000-07:00

Ran across this site a while back, it has a bunch of learning resources of all kinds. If you're studying depreciation, here is a collection that should help:

Study depreciation

It has lots of help including a depreciation overview, bottomless worksheets for practice, formula solvers to learn the different depreciation methods (straight line, declining balance, double declining balance, units of production, and sum of the years' digits), and a study sheet for getting ready at exam time.

Enjoy!

President Schwarzenegger?

2007-09-28T19:07:00.000-07:00

In the Simpson's Movie, Arnold Schwarzenegger is President of the United States. This would seem to indicate that cartoon civics joins cartoon physics as being outside of reality, since he was born in Thal, Austria and (according to Section I, Article II of the US Constitution) is ineligible to hold that office.

Much talk has circulated over the years regarding a Constitutional Amendment that would eliminate the requirement that Presidential candidates be "natural born citizens," but that process could take so long that Arnold could be dead and buried before it comes to pass.

I have an alternate idea that could make him eligible to be President Schwarzenegger right now...

Social Learning Takes to the Internet

2007-09-11T15:25:00.000-07:00

Fort Worth, Texas (August 30, 2007) – Now, College-Cram.com introduces its own social learning... Scores of social networking sites help students connect for social and entertainment value, but College-Cram.com realizes that students also need to do well in school. That's why their student tutorial website has incorporated social learning into its framework.

"You can create and share notes, connect with other students in study groups, and learn while sitting in your dorm or coffee shop? I wish we had this when I was in school!" is the most often heard reaction to the site's new approach. According to one student's comment wall post, "[College-Cram] now has awesome advantages and thanks for having this site, it makes going to school easier!"

So what is a social learning website? According to Brian Shannon, CEO of College-Cram.com: "Social learning focuses on the learning that occurs within a social context. It considers that people learn from one another, not just in a vacuum. College-Cram, which has for years offered study resources for students around the world, now boasts a full-featured social networking core that brings social learning to our students."

"Facebook, Myspace, and other social networks appeal to students, but they are not educational. We haven't seen another site like College-Cram that is educational AND was built specifically for students," says VP of Operations Rudy Lopes. "Add to that our extensive Cramlet library and you have a winning combination ripe for success."

The College-Cram.com library has grown since 2004 to serve thousands of students worldwide. It includes over 800 Cramlets™, tutorials, quizzes, and study sheets that help students get better grades in less time. Students (and instructors) can also share their own presentations, outlines, and notes in their "notebook" and form study groups without geographic boundaries.

Social networking sites have become staples in the student experience. College-Cram can help ensure that learning will remain a staple as well. After all, remaining in school is a key part of the student experience, isn't it?

College-Cram.com is a free online social learning resource with communities organized by subject area. College courses usually cover 100 or more concepts, but each Cramlet™ from College-Cram.com covers just one concept and can be completed in less than five minutes. Get better grades in less time at College-Cram.com.

Web 2.0 Backpack for Students

2007-07-24T12:10:00.000-07:00

Great article in ReadWriteWeb about Web 2.0 sites that help students. College-Cram got a mention as one of the best for studying.

Read more

Acing your next job interview

2007-06-22T12:52:00.001-07:00

Experience, skills, and a killer resume are great to have, but if you can't get past the job interview you won't land the job. Some of us are naturally great at the interview process, but many of us need to do some preparation in order to do well.

When you're called in for an interview, remember to think in their terms. They have a position that needs filling, and they think you might be the one to fill it. They're bringing you in to confirm or deny that belief. On the other hand, you need to make sure the job is something you want. So, it's a chance for both parties to find out about each other, and everything you do and say should help you both make the decision that is best for all.

Read more about Seven Keys to Acing a Job Interview in this article.

June 2007 Newsletter

2007-06-22T12:40:00.000-07:00

The summer is starting, and with it a bit more of the wide world creeps into our lives. As promised last month, we have some pointers on writing a killer resume. We also have a couple more polls relating to the upcoming presidential elections.

Bon chance,

Professor Cram

Seven Keys to Writing a Better Resume

Job hunting can be a stressful time, but a powerful resume can make your hunt quite a bit easier. Typically, a hiring manager will read your resume for a few seconds, so you don't have long to impress them. A good resume can be the difference between being called for an interview and not being called at all.

Here are some keys to transforming your resume into an effective job hunting tool:
Read more

Important Issue in the Presidential Race

The presidential debates have raised many issues, both real and manufactured, that will help define the candidacy of those who hope to capture the White House in 2008, and it is our duty to make sure they stay focused on what's important to us. So what are the defining issues of this race?
Most Important Issue!
Least Important Issue!

Friends of Professor Cram: TECHFortWorth.org

2007-06-12T12:33:00.000-07:00

The TECH Fort Worth business incubator and technology incubator has been of tremendous assistance in our efforts to provide learning materials to college students.

For small business owners looking for a business incubator to help them take the next step, or entrepreneurs thinking about starting their own business, TECH Fort Worth technology incubator can help.

New update on presidential poll

2007-05-31T16:01:00.000-07:00

Apparently the Ron Paul supporters are out in force, giving Dr. Paul a share of the lead along with Mayor Giuliani.

It will be interesting to see if Fred Thomson's decision will impact the rankings.

Vote here for your choice of Democrats and the Republicans.

College-Cram.com April 2007 Newsletter

2007-04-17T14:48:00.000-07:00

I was all set to write some pithy commentary about this year's US Income Tax Day being a reminder that responsibility is upon us, and then I heard about Virginia Tech. It's odd how life has a way of putting things in sudden and sharp perspective...

Actually, I guess the message hasn't changed. Responsibility is upon us -- not just financial, but social and moral as well. We need to be aware of other people's feelings, true, but we also need to be aware of our own surroundings. It's a responsibility to ourselves as well as those around us that will prepare us best for whatever life throws in our direction.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, and those others affected by this senseless act -- students, teachers, and community alike.

Carpe diem,
Professor Cram

Depreciation in Accounting

Depreciation is a key topic for any accounting or business student to master. Let us walk you through the concepts with this tutorial.
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Equation of a Straight Line

The Linear equation, or equation of a straight line, is a concept that has kicked the butt of algebra students for years. Let us set you straight with this tutorial.
Read more

Adult Swim

OK, things can't all be seriousness and responsibility. How about voting for your best and worst Adult Swim show?
Best Adult Swim show

Worst Adult Swim show

Taxes on Buyers and Sellers

Governments use taxes as an imposed financial charge or levy upon an individual or legal entity to raise revenue for public-purposes. So what the heck does that mean?
Read more

Soa-Cah-Toa

Trigonometry students need to memorize many angle function formulas for their finals. This tutorial will help you remember!
Read more

Interest Rates

2007-04-02T12:59:00.000-07:00

Interest rates are way too confusing, whether it's the Rule of 78 or figuring out your Average Daily Balance.

Let www.College-Cram.com help you understand how this stuff works. Your finances will thank you!

P.S. As an added bonus, check out this tutorial on Balancing Your Checkbook.

Cash Discounts, Trade Discounts, and Allowances

2007-03-30T15:47:00.000-07:00

Discounts and Allowances are reductions to the selling price of goods or services. They can be applied anywhere in the distribution channel between the manufacturer, middlemen (such as distributors, wholesalers, or retailers), and retail customer. Typically, they are used to promote sales, reduce inventory, and reward or encourage behaviors that benefit the issuer of the discount or allowance.

Read about cash discounts, trade discounts, partial payment discounts, quantity discounts, and trade allowances in this Discounts and Allowances tutorial.

March 2007 College-Cram Newsletter

2007-03-28T09:39:00.000-07:00

Spring break, NCAA tourney time, grapefruit league action... This is the time of the year when we all could use a good mental recharge. The semester's far from over, though, so unfortunately we now have to get back to work.

Still, we have a few quickie diversions for you to help you ease back into things.

I got mine, I hope you got yours too,
Professor Cram

NCAA Tournament Picks

The brackets are filled out, and the games are undeway. So who do you think will take the men's finals?
Vote here!

Presidential Candidates

Apparently, the primary season started early this year. So who do you think will make the best Republican and Democratic presidential candidates for 2008?
Vote Democratic here!
Vote Republican here!

About the US Federal Government

I can understand non-US citizens 'not getting' the government structure in the US. Some of us living with it don't get it. This overview should shed some light on the intent, organization, and checks and balances of the US Federal Government.
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Don't Just Listen To Us!

Students all over the world are sounding off on Professor Cram...
Read more

Ask Professor Cram: T-Accounts

Dear Professor Cram:
HI, i have a test..TOMORROW MORNING.. and need big time help on Accounting using 'T' Accounts... is there any way you could help me out and explain to me the basics...?
Brittany, Saskatchewan

Thanks for the question, Brittany. 'T' accounts are a representation of the ledgers for each account in the chart of accounts, with debits on the left and credits on the right. Usually when you are working assignments with 'T' accounts, you are at the posting from the journal to the ledgers step in the accounting cycle.
Read more

Accounting Cycle

2007-03-27T17:04:00.000-07:00

The Accounting Cycle is a series of steps which are repeated every reporting period. The process starts with making accounting entries for each transaction and goes through closing the books.

Visit College-Cram.com to read more about the Accounting Cycle, including tutorials on these concepts:

These tutorials should help you master basic accounting, and help you succeed in school or your job.

Presidential choices for college students

2007-02-28T11:48:00.000-08:00

Here is your opportunity to stand up and be counted. Just pick your favorite candidate from the Democrats and the Republicans.

See what other college students are thinking too!

And justice for all,
Professor Cram

New College-Cram.com newsletter is out

2007-02-14T15:24:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is a time of love... So who really loves their schoolwork? Who loves to do homework, or take tests, or sweat through term papers and class presentations? I'm guessing far fewer of us than our instructors would like to believe.

Still, I'd be willing to bet that many of us really do love to learn, probably more than you might think. These are the folks that stay after class, ask question upon question, and throw off the grading curves. To them, I offer congratulations on a noble quest for knowledge.

For everyone else, we're here for you.

Once more in the name of love,
Professor Cram

Best Ways to Cheat in College

As both a student and professor, I have seen the variety of ways students have tried to cheat their way through college. Which ones work the best, and which aren't worth your time? Let's take a look below...
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What Was Your Most Expensive Textbook?

We all know that college textbooks are way too expensive, and that college textbook publishers are to blame. So which publisher is the worst offender? Let's find out...
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The Accounting Cycle

Every accounting student, whether they are an accounting major or not, struggles with the basics of debits, credits, and the whole accounting process. This tutorial lays out the series of steps that make up the accounting cycle, and for a number of you will mean the difference between passing and failing accounting.
Read more

Ask Professor Cram: Debits and Credits

Dear Professor Cram:
I'm having trouble with journal entries. I keep getting confused by whether the debits and credits are increasing or decreasing the accounts. Why is this so confusing?
John W., NY
Thank you for your interest in College-Cram.com and thanks for your question. Your question about debits and credits is not unusual. A lot of people are confused by these terms. What you need to remember is the accounting secret:
Read more

Ask Professor Cram: Markup to a Retailer

Dear Professor Cram:
Could you tell me what the standard markup for an apparel manufacturer to a retailer is and the formula used? Thanks!
Karen B, Hotmail
Thank you for your interest in College-Cram.com and thanks for your question. You may want to check out our Smartacus Study Sheet on markup and markdown to review our two Cramlets that cover markup (one calculating markup from price, the other from cost).
Read more

Friends of Professor Cram: AdSpecialtyItem.com

2007-01-02T06:21:00.000-08:00

Ad Specialty Item for the 21st Century

Remember when we were kids, and mom would get those hokey refrigerator magnets from local businesses like the insurance agent or real estate broker? Those businesses used those magnets for one simple reason -- the magnet sat on the refrigerator which sat right next to the kitchen phone, so a business could be sure their message would be visible whenever you made a phone call.

Guess what? Everybody has a cell phone now, and they aren't using it anywhere near the refrigerator. So how can businesses get their message out to consumers whenever they reach for their phones? With egrips® appliqués, that's how!

Here in the 21st century, egrips® appliqués are the most effective ad specialty item a business can own. Period. How often do you reach for your cell phone? That's how often your message can reach your customers. How often do you see someone else talking on their cell phone? That's how often your logo get reach the people around them. I can't believe there are still business people out there who don't know about this ad specialty item!

Find out more about making egrips appliqués your own ad specialty item.

Why study Economics?

2006-12-20T14:38:00.000-08:00

Face it, nobody going to college wants to take economics. You may be good at it, but chances are you find economics to be a challenge and are forced to take the class. So what's the best way to study and pass economics? With College-Cram, of course!

Once you sign up for free, just follow these three steps to getting better grades:

Learn - access single topic interactive Cramlets™ to help you understand difficult Economics topics like comparing a city's CPI or shifting the demand curve.

Practice - use our Bottomless Worksheets and Flash Cards to get unlimited amounts of practice (on topics like the supply and demand curve and the price ceiling) until you can't get it wrong.

Review - work through our Economics quizzes and Smartacus Study Sheets™ to build up your confidence and reinforce your overall understanding of topics like the Price Floor and the Production Possibilities Frontier curve.

What could be easier?

Don't forget, it all starts when you sign up for free.

P.S. As an added bonus, we also have Economics articles that could help you.

December 2006 Newsletter is out

2006-12-18T07:49:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is over... Every year I swear I won't overindulge, and every year I end up over-turkeyed, over-pied, and sprawled out on the couch. This year was no different in that regard. Finals are almost here too, and that's more pressure than I care for -- just like last year.

What is different, though, is a new look for College-Cram. Acting on your many suggestions, we've reorganized the subject pages to reflect the Learn, Practice, and Review approach and made it easier to find relevant articles. We also gave the overall layout a fresher look. I hope you enjoy it!

Still struggling to breathe,
Professor Cram

Twelve Days of Finals

'Tis the season for proving to your instructor that you've paid attention this semester and maybe learned something, so we composed a "twelve final exam gifts" into a holiday song for your amusement. Enjoy!

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Seven Keys to Getting Better Grades

It would be outstanding if you could mix a few chemicals and make a potion that would get you better grades. Unfortunately, those of us not named Harry Potter can't rely on magic -- we need to work at it.

Fortunately, there are some best practices that will help you do better next semester. Make these seven keys your New Year's resolution and you'll have a better report card come springtime.

Read more

End-of-Semester Survey

This semester we transformed College-Cram.com into the free study resource that students have been clamoring for. In order to help keep it a free and growing resource, we ask that you take a minute to fill out this survey to help us keep helping you. Thanks!

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Ask Professor Cram: Finding Unit Sales

Dear Professor Cram:
When annual sales, variable cost, contribution margin, fixed costs, and operating income are all known, how can the number of units be determined?

Elias, Baker College

Thanks for your question, Elias.
The categories you mention are actually more information than is required, but that is not unusual in word problem assignments. I am going to show how to do it using my own example, since you didn't give me a specific problem to solve. Here is my example - let's say:

Read more

Ask Professor Cram: Using the Sine Function

Dear Professor Cram:
An escalator is 152 feet in length rises to a platform and makes a 30 degree angle with ground. Find the height of the platform using a trigonometry equation.

Ekta, Middlesex Community College

The problem you describe is a classic sine function equation. Imagine the platform at the top of a right triangle...

Read more

Friends of Professor Cram: Smartacus

2006-12-07T09:03:00.000-08:00

This is the first of an occasional mention of companies local to the Dallas/Fort Worth area that are friends of Professor Cram. I encourage you to look them all up and give them your business, if you're in the market for what they offer.

The Smartacus Corporation is a web development company covering the DFW Metroplex, from Grapevine and Flower Mound to Mansfield and Burleson and points in between. They are web developers who specialize in web design, accessibility, and search engine optimization (SEO). The folks at Smartacus developed the database-driven College-Cram.com website, and have done some amazing things with search engine optimization (SEO) for the site.

Need web design in Grapevine? Want better search engine optimization (SEO) in Burleson? Missing web accessibility in Arlington? Give the Smartacus office a call.

Why study Algebra?

2006-12-06T17:33:00.000-08:00

Face it, nobody going to college wants to take algebra. Either you're already good at math and don't need it, or you find math to be a challenge and are forced to take it. Either way, you end up stuck with it. So what's the best way to study and pass College Algebra? With College-Cram, of course!

Once you sign up for free, just follow these three steps to getting better grades:

Learn - access single topic interactive Cramlets™ to help you understand difficult College Algebra topics like solving quadratic equations and factoring trinomials.

Practice - use our Bottomless Worksheets and Flash Cards to get unlimited amounts of practice (on topics like finding the slope of a line and using the FOIL method) until you can't get it wrong.

Review - work through our College Algebra quizzes and Smartacus Study Sheets™ to build up your confidence and reinforce your overall understanding of topics like complex numbers and the properties of equality and inequality.

What could be easier?

Don't forget, it all starts when you sign up for free.

P.S. As an added bonus, we also have College Algebra articles that could help you.

Why study Accounting?

2006-11-29T12:51:00.000-08:00

Some of us take accounting because we love it, but the rest of us take it because it's a requirement for our business degree. So what's the best way to study Accounting? With College-Cram, of course!

Once you sign up for free, just follow these three steps to getting better grades:

Learn - access single topic interactive Cramlets™ to help you understand difficult Accounting topics like declining balance depreciation and present value.

Practice - use our Bottomless Worksheets and Flash Cards to get unlimited amounts of practice (on topics like markups and markdowns) until you can't get it wrong.

Review - work through our Accounting quizzes and Smartacus Study Sheets™ to build up your confidence and reinforce your overall understanding of topics like cost of goods sold and depreciation methods.

What could be easier?

Don't forget, it all starts when you sign up for free.

P.S. As an added bonus, we also have Accounting articles that could help you.

Why study Chemistry?

2006-11-27T14:35:00.000-08:00

Some of us just like the subject, but most of us take it because we have to. So what's the best way to study Chemistry? With College-Cram, of course!

Once you sign up for free, just follow these three steps to getting better grades:

Learn - access single topic interactive Cramlets™ to help you understand difficult Chemistry topics like Avogadro's Number, the Periodic Table, and chemical bonding.

Practice - use our Bottomless Worksheets and Flash Cards to get unlimited amounts of practice (on topics like chemical symbols and mole conversions) until you can't get it wrong.

Review - work through our Chemistry quizzes and Smartacus Study Sheets™ to build up your confidence and reinforce your overall understanding of topics like stoichiometry and organic formulas.

What could be easier?

Don't forget, it all starts when you sign up for free.

P.S. As an added bonus, we also have Chemistry articles that could help you.

Time to give thanks

2006-11-27T14:25:00.000-08:00

Among other things, I'm thankful that we've finally finished out redesign of the College-Cram website. It does a better job of highlighting our study philosophy of Learn/Practice/Review, gives you better access to past articles, and more. Plus, it just looks way cooler this way!

November Newsletter is here!

2006-11-16T16:53:00.000-08:00

Mid-terms are over, US elections are over, Halloween is over. As winter approaches, it's time to start thinking about next semester. Sure, this semester has some life left in it yet, so don't lose sight of that. Still, you'd better start mapping out your spring and summer semesters to make sure you get the courses you want (or need).

What advice do you have for your fellow students on getting the classes they want? Send us an email and you might see your comments in our next newsletter!

Staying out of the cold,

Professor Cram

Finding a Holiday Job

Every year at this time, tons of retailers prepare for holiday shoppers by hiring seasonal workers. For the typical college student, getting a holiday job is also an annual occurence. So how do you find a prime holiday job? Here are some tips for a productive (and profitable) job search:
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How to Write an Essay

Many of you are thanking the "test gods" because you just found out that your final exam is a multiple choice with some true and false, but others are down in the dumps because they are having an essay exam. Don't fret -- Professor Cram is here to help you out, so let's look at how best to prepare for it.
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New Tutorial: About Aqueous Reactions

Are you taking Chemistry this semester? If so, you'll benefit from this latest addition to our Cramlet family. It's a brief tutorial that describes the terminology involved and explains the different kinds of aqueous reactions.
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Can You Help?

This semester we transformed College-Cram.com into the free study resource that students have been clamoring for. In order to help keep it a free and growing resource, could you take a minute to fill out this survey to help us keep helping you? Thanks!
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Ask Professor Cram: Expanding a Rational Expression

Dear Professor Cram:

I am taking a distance learning college algebra course, so I am left on my own to some extent to learn the material. I'm just beginning to work problems like: (5x²/6y²)³

The book I'm using doesn't give me an example of this type of problem. Where do I start?

Marilyn D., Lancaster, CA

Thank you for using College-Cram.com and for your Algebra question.

The best way to expand this rational expression is to recall that raising anything to the power of three means to multiply it by itself three times:
Read more

Ask Professor Cram: Resistance in a Series Circuit

Dear Professor Cram:

I have a question about series circuits. There are 3 resistors, R1 is 10kohms/.5W and R2 is 3.3kohms/.250W and the third is unknown. If the circuit draws a current of 1.5mA from a 27V source, how do i calculate the ohmic value of the third resistor?

Nicholas, Mohawk College

Thank you for your question, Nicholas. Physics is not normally my forte, but I can certainly help you with this one. Our first step is to determine the power and resistance for the circuit as a whole:
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Ask Professor Cram: Using the Graphing Method

Dear Professor Cram:

What is the solution to the system of equations: x = y and x = -y?

KG, US Navy

KG, thank you for this algebra question. The easiest way to solve this system of equations problem is by using the graphing method, as shown in the illustration:
Read more

Halloween Newsletter

2006-10-30T09:21:00.000-08:00

This was a magical time of year when I was a kid. All year our parents made us behave and act civilized, but on Halloween they dressed us up in weird outfits and sent us out into the streets to beg for candy!

These days, I get a kick sitting on my porch giving out candy and watching all the little kids in their costumes. (I still shake my head at the high schoolers that should have given this up years ago...)

In this newsletter, we have mostly treats for you but one potential trick. Read on!

Trick or Treat,

Professor Cram

And Then There Were Two...?

At first glance, the news that Thomson is selling their college textbook publishing business seems unlikely to be of much interest to the average college student. However, this may end up being the biggest and costliest trick you get this Halloween.
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Tricks and Treats to Studying

Just run a Google on how to study and you will find over 268 million entries all boasting theories or techniques for success. So what study habits are most effective?
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New Tutorial: Using the Periodic Table

All of our science textbooks have a Periodic Table in the front cover, but neglect to explain how to use the thing. If you take Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, or any other science, you need to check this out.
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Ask Professor Cram: Two Cars Algebra Problem

Dear Professor Cram:

One automobile starts out from a town at 8am and travels at an average speed rate of 35mph. Three hours later a second automobile starts out to overtake the first. If the second automobile travels at an average rate of 55mph how long before it overtakes the first?

Holly F., Madison Area Technical College

Thank you for your interest in College-Cram, Holly, and thanks for your question.

Your question is a variant of the classic A train leaves Chicago going... question you see on tests like the SAT, but do not let that alarm you...
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Ask Professor Cram: Velocity Vectors

Dear Professor Cram:

An executive flew his corporate jet to a meeting in a city 1500 kilometers away. After traveling the same amount of time on return flight, the pilot mentioned that they still had 300 km to go. The air speed of the plane was 600 km/hr for both legs. Assuming that the wind direction was parallel to the flight path and constant all day, how fast was the wind blowing?

Ekta, Middlesex Community College

Ekta, thank you for this physics question involving vectors. Let us see how we can tackle it.
Read more

Ask Professor Cram: Square Roots

Dear Professor Cram:

First I must tell you, that I am so happy to have found your site, it has given me hope that I can learn what I need to advance in my college studies. Here is my question: how do you find the square root of a radicand?

D. B., University of Louisiana

Thank you for your feedback, we love to hear from people we are helping.

To answer your question, there are a couple of ways of finding a square root without a calculator.
Read more

October Newsletter is out

2006-10-18T08:41:00.000-07:00

As US mid-term elections approach on the heels of mid-term exams, it occurs to me just how many similarities there are between government and college. In both cases, we've been compelled up to this point to follow along what others wanted from us, but now we're finally in a position to make our own choices (for good or ill). Thankfully, we don't get the chance to change our elected officials as frequently as some of us change our majors!

So as both mid-terms approach, do prepare yourself. Study the choices in front of you and make informed decisions based on individual merits. Above all, don't forget to show up!

Do or do not - there is no 'try',
Professor Cram

Read this latest newsletter, including articles on
how to give a presentation, how to take a test you haven't prepared for, and more.

How to use the periodic table

2006-10-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

Most of my science textbooks had a periodic table in the front or back cover. None of them, though, told me how to read the bloody thing. Check out a great tutorial at College-Cram on using the periodic table.

New learning materials on cell biology

2006-10-10T11:46:00.000-07:00

We have some new tutorials on cell membranes at our College-Cram Biology page:

Active Transport is the mediated process of moving molecules and other substances across membranes....

Passive Transport is the cellular process of moving molecules and other substances across membranes....

Endocytosis is a cellular process where cells absorb molecules or substances from outside the cell by engulfing it with the cell membrane....

Exocytosis is a cellular process where cells eject waste products or chemical transmitters (such as hormones) from the interior of the cell....

All these and more help students study their biology coursework in less time.

Big Whoop! Watch Videos and Learn for Free, Why!

2006-09-21T22:59:00.000-07:00

Reading the following story on CNN about Yale offering free video classes on-line made me think, "yeah I can go to Yale now."

Interesting that it doesn't earn any credit and cannot be a substitute for "actually teaching." Why take it! Is this the best e-learning can offer, a free web video from Yale?

We are offering over 500 hundred interactive learning modules at College-Cram.com and we didn't need $755,000 to do it. The money would have been nice, but we did it because we truly care about students learning and succeeding in class.

Rewind that I didn't get it, boring!

Professor Cram

Attention all advertisers

2006-09-12T15:13:00.000-07:00

OK, maybe just some of you...

College-Cram is now offering access to our large and growing subscriber base. Want to get your message in front of college students across the country and around the world? Give us a shout!

(Check out demographics, media kit, pricing, etc. at our advertiser page.

September Newsletter

2006-09-12T14:58:00.000-07:00

Another new school year begins...

For you, that means new classes. For us, it means making College-Cram totally free for everyone. You've responded overwhelmingly and positively over the past month, so we're going to keep doing what we can to help you -- cranking out more Cramlets™ and answering your questions. You can help too by sending us more questions and by spreading the word about College-Cram. Got a web page on Facebook or MySpace? Add a link to us!

This month we have an article written for us by one of our student-subscribers. She's been a longtime friend to Professor Cram, and her insights are particularly appropriate for this time of the year.

The bell has rung, and the seats are filling up. It's time for all of us to get back to work. Enjoy!

Go get 'em,
Professor Cram

A Brave New World

(Submitted by a fellow student)
After high school, my expectations towards college were tempered with the stereotypes shown on television and movies. After my first week there, though, I came to recognize a startling number of differences -- college is completely different from high school.
Read more

Calling All Authors

Have you ever thought, "I could do better than that" after reading an article? If so, then Professor Cram wants you!
Read more

Ask Professor Cram: Deadweight Loss

Dear Professor Cram:
I am doing my microeconomics paper at present, and am working on this question: "Assuming the supply and demand curves for cars given below, calculate the deadweight loss that results from a tax of $100 per car collected by the sellers. I am struggling to graph this, can you help please?
Joanne M., New Zealand

Thank you for using College-Cram.com and thank you for your excellent question about deadweight loss.
Deadweight loss is an economic inefficiency - in this case introduced by a tax on a product. The tax raises the price to the buyer but not for the seller, resulting in equilibrium for supply and demand moving from the point of efficiency.

Read more

Ask Professor Cram: Systems of Linear Equations

Dear Professor Cram:
Jerry was 1/3 as young as his grandfather 15 years ago. If the sum of their ages is 110, how old is Jerry's grandfather? What is the easiest way to calculate this? Thanks
Kaye B, Riverdale
Thanks for your word-problem question, Kaye. This is a system of linear equations problem, which we'll solve using the Substitution Method. Let's review the facts first:

Read more

Ask Professor Cram: Financial Ratio Analysis

Dear Professor Cram:
Can you explain to me the concept of ratio analysis and the limitations of ratio analysis? Thanks!
Ken S., Hong Kong
Thanks for your question, Ken. In Finance, ratio analysis is generally used to compare the performance or position of a single company with other companies or with an industry.

Read more

See the complete September newsletter

The tests, they are a-coming...

2006-02-13T07:21:00.000-08:00

For many of us, test time is rapidly approaching. Are you ready for it? In case you didn't see them, here are links to newsletter articles on taking good notes in class, getting better grades, and how to write an essay. Follow these suggestions, and this round of tests shouldn't be too bad.

Good luck!
Professor Cram

Sshhhh... don't tell anyone

2006-01-25T14:54:00.000-08:00

We've been hard at work here at College-Cram getting a surprise ready for you. If you're into music, you're going to like this...

Nose to the grindstone,
Professor Cram

Happy New Year

2006-01-02T12:29:00.000-08:00

We've made it through another year, and 2006 is spread before us. To celebrate the start of another school semester, we're offering a special sale -- get a five-month premium upgrade for the three-month price.

(Or, you can look at it as "buy a three-month and get two extra months free.")

Either way it's a great deal for you, but since it expires at the end of January you better hurry.

Saving you cash,
Professor Cram

What a long strange trip it's been

2005-12-22T14:45:00.000-08:00

2005 is winding down, and 2006 is just around the corner. All the folks behind College-Cram.com would like to extend our best wishes for a productive and successful new year to each of our readers and subscribers. We also wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa, or happy holidays (you know who you are).

Onward!
Professor Cram

Smartacus Study Sheets

2005-12-01T12:13:00.000-08:00

Now that the November newsletter is out, we turned out attention to our latest product -- the Smartacus Study Sheets™.

Students have been using study sheets for years. Collections of notes, formulas, and such presented on one or more sheets make a great reference for studying. We've kicked it up a notch by embedding links for running the appropriate Cramlets™.

You can find our growing collection of Smartacus Study Sheets™ by clicking here.

They have everything we described above -- notes, formulas, and Cramlet™ links -- and you can print them if you want.

OK, here's the best part: you don't need to be logged in to use the study sheets! Sure, you need to register to use the Cramlets™, but you can view and print any Smartacus Study Sheet™ without registering or logging in.

Don't stay up too late!
Professor Cram

Sneak peek at how to write an essay

2005-11-28T16:04:00.000-08:00

We have a cool article coming out in tomorrow's newsletter on How to write an essay, but since some of you have tests coming up I thought I'd give you a sneak peek at it.

Enjoy!
Professor Cram

November newsletter coming soon

2005-11-18T10:09:00.000-08:00

We have a newsletter to publish, and like students around the world, we were faced with a dilemma. We can write fiendishly and publish before Thanksgiving, or we can publish afterwards. One way lets us relax through the holiday, the other way makes us work through it.

Like many students learn this time of the year, there is no winning move. So, we decided to flip a coin. And the winner is...

We'll see you after Thanksgiving (if we can stay awake long enough to finish the articles.)

Chew slowly,
Professor Cram

P.S. Cool new Cramlet out today, we'll probably include a review in the newsletter.

Term Papers and Thanksgiving

2005-11-14T14:04:00.000-08:00

Term papers... I don't think there is ever a convenient time for them to be due. There are at least two camps of philosophy for assigning term papers around Thanksgiving.

The first is the professor who wants to give you something to be thankful about by assigning the paper to be due before you leave. The problem is that you stay up all night for several days writing papers and then drive home sleep-deprived. This makes the rest of the family speculate about the dark circles under your eyes, because you (obviously!) can't be studying that hard. They figure you either must be on drugs or an alcoholic. So be thankful you got it done and that you are at least gorging on turkey, because it could be worse.

The second are the professors who don't want to grade papers while they are spending time with their families, so they assign the paper to be due the first day after returning from Thanksgiving. What pure joy! Now you get to work during Thanksgiving itself. Still the family speculates about your well being because you're overeating, grumpy, and not sleeping. Again the conclusions are the same -- you are either on drugs or an alcoholic.

The solution? Sorry, don't have one. Either way, you're going to be spending too much time writing papers around the holiday. The trick, though, is to have books with you anytime you're home -- at least that way your family might possibly consider that you are in fact studying and maybe aren't on drugs...

Pass the Turkey!
Professor Cram

Which way are we going?

2005-11-04T13:42:00.000-08:00

The difference between accounting and finance is a matter of perspective. Finance is looking ahead and accounting tells us where we have been. But then there is managerial accounting, which looks forward, and I never could tell it apart from finance. Since I never could steer a car by watching the rearview mirror, when I was in business school I took all the finance and managerial accounting that they had and only the financial accounting that was required.

Another place that direction comes up is in time value of money. The difference between compound interest (future value) and present value is which way you are going – and that is determined by which one you know when you start. They have an inverse relationship. (Sounds a lot like algebra, doesn't it?) With interest rate as a third variable (when you get comfortable with the process), you can use any two to solve for the third.

You can review the concepts in the study Cramlets™ and practice endlessly going backwards and forwards using the bottomless worksheets.

y^x,

Professor Cram

Happy Birthday to me!

2005-11-02T14:41:00.000-08:00

Today is Professor Cram's birthday, and as all real Tolkien fans know it's a hobbit tradition to give presents on your birthday.

So here goes: I'm giving away Free registrations all month to College-Cram.com!

That's right, get better grades with over 100 of our most popular Cramlets™. You don't even need to go to Mordor or anything!

Snoozing by the fireplace,
Professor Cram

P.S. If you're already registered, see how you can get a Premium Upgrade for as little as $5, and with a money-back guarantee.

Seven Keys to Success in College

2005-11-01T07:39:00.000-08:00

I was giving a speech the other day at TCU on the seven keys to entrepreneurship, the bootstrap method. Afterwards I was thinking the seven keys of bootstrapping also apply to college and success in school. Some of you may be scratching your head now and wondering what starting a company and going to school have in common?

School is an entrepreneurial experience, you are taking the time to organize, manage, and invest time and money while assuming the risk for your education. It is also an experience that many have to partake in without the necessary funds (bootstrapping).

Your education is what you make of the situation. It will be your business for the next four years or so. How successful you are at school depends on how well you run your company (yourself). Think about your school as your own private company. Are you spending wisely and are you making wise choices concerning your product (you) and your market (instructors and classes)? Remember the customer (instructors) is always right; they are the ones who will pay or grade your product.

Look for the November Newsletter where I'll be sharing more about the seven keys for college success.

I am the round man, with the square deal!
Professor Cram

Which scenario sounds better to you?

2005-10-31T15:18:00.000-08:00

When you purchase a textbook, you're pre-paying for whatever internet resources the publisher threw together to impress your instructor. For the average course, that comes to somewhere around $15.

If you choose not to use the internet resources, you're out $15.

If you use the internet resources and they suck, you're out $15.

If you complain to the publisher, you won't get any help. And yeah, you're still out $15.

If you get a one-month Premium Upgrade with College-Cram, and for whatever reason you aren't satisfied, we'll refund your $15.

Now, which one of those scenarios sounds better to you?

Sticking up for students,
Professor Cram

How useful are internet resources?

2005-10-30T08:16:00.000-08:00

Over and over again, college students have told us that they just don't use the computerized 'stuff' that publishers provide with their textbooks. The words "pointless" and "useless" get thrown around by college students when describing these resources.

So why do publishers continue to spend (your!) good money on these? Because they aren't meant to help students, that's why.

Publishers are in business to sell textbooks, period. Their whole business model revolves around convincing your instructor that their book is best. But since every publisher's Chemistry textbook is pretty much the same, they fall back on the old 'we have more stuff to go with the book' approach.

It doesn't matter if their computerized 'stuff' is useless, as long as they have it that's one more checkmark for your instructor.

I have a confession to make -- I spent some time producing these sorts of resources for two of the three major publishers. I know what motivated the folks I worked for, and tried like hell to make the 'stuff' I produced actually be of use (despite their efforts to the contrary).

Now that I'm with College-Cram, I am finally able to produce useful resources. Our Cramlets aren't meant to convince the instructor to use a textbook because we don't publish textbooks.

Our Cramlets have to be useful, and over the past six semesters we've heard college students tell us loud and clear -- they are!

New newsletter is out

2005-10-24T18:11:00.000-07:00

The latest College-Cram newsletter is out. It has some interesting articles like test-taking tips, why college algebra is such a challenge and what you can do about it, and a Cramlet review for Factoring Trinomials.

I also included a bit of introduction for your amusement. Enjoy!
Professor Cram

Rocking all over the world, part 2

2005-10-21T06:40:00.000-07:00

The party continues to grow! Since my last RAOTW post two weeks ago, we've added students from Canada, Jamaica, and Turkey. Including the U.S., that makes over 200 colleges in seven countries.

Ride the wave,
Professor Cram

"Midterms," or "Do We Have a Test Today?"

2005-10-14T12:39:00.000-07:00

My worst experience in college was taking the final exam for a Geology class. I was working full time and was only taking one course for the semester. With my mind on other things, I showed up for the final exam at the regularly scheduled class time.

I walked to my seat and sat down, when the instructor motioned to me. I walked up with a smile on my face and he looked rather baffled. He asked, "Are you here to take the final exam?" I replied, "Yep!" The instructor then looked at me again trying to remember me as one of his students and then said, "You do know the exam started an hour and half ago and you only have thirty minutes left?" I looked back with a blank stare; it was then I realized that the final exam schedule was different than the class time.

I picked up the test and started immediately. Only a few people had finished the test before I got started. I went through it like lightning, answering exactly what I knew and skipping the rest. Once I finished the first pass I had fifteen minutes left; the room was still mostly full. I took a second pass and guessed at the questions I didn't know. When I finished with the second pass I took it up to the instructor, smiled, and turned it in with five minutes to spare.

It wasn't the best grade I ever made but I did pass. So, remember to check your schedule and make sure you know when the midterm or final exam is scheduled and in what room. (I did have roommate who showed up in the wrong room for his final. Fortunately it was a departmental exam, and the room was for the same course just a different section.)

I have included two links that offer some test taking tips. I especially like the one that starts off, "It's already too late!" lol

Midterm Test Taking Tips
Studying For a Test

Just remember, it's never too late and if you need a little help with understanding how to read a Multi-Step Income Statement, then give us a try.

There's no Crying in Baseball,
Professor Cram

Rocking all over the world

2005-10-06T13:13:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to give a special "hey" to our subscribers from New Zealand, the Philippines, Bangladesh, and all the other countries around the world.

Welcome to the party!
Professor Cram

Using the Bottomless Worksheets

2005-09-26T07:01:00.000-07:00

As you may have noticed, many of our math and math-related Cramlets (such as Simple Linear Inequalities) have Bottomless Worksheets to go with them. Bottomless Worksheets are special Cramlets that randomly generate ten problems for you to solve, and provide an answer sheet too.

The best way to tackle these topics is to check out the original Cramlet to learn the problem-solving skills, then try them out with the Bottomless Worksheets, then go back to the original Cramlet to work out the ones you get wrong.

While many of the original Cramlets are only available to Premium Upgrade subscribers, the Bottomless Worksheets are available to all subscribers -- Premium Upgrade and Free Registration subscribers alike.

Good to the Last Drop!
Professor Cram

Tweak a Little Here and There...

2005-09-21T14:45:00.000-07:00

It has been a few days since we launched the new site and like all things we have been tweaking. We appreciate your feedback; let us know what you think and how we can improve.

One of the first issues we've dealt with is the restriction of an .edu email address for the free registration. College-Cram.com is designed for University/College Students. We are working toward the development of tools to enhance the student's experience and build individual campus communities for academic success. This is why we are requiring an .edu e-mail address, to keep out those who want to take advantage of students.

If your university does not issue an e-mail account with the .edu exchange, e-mail us to set-up your school's e-mail exchange.

Keep Trucking!
Professor Cram

Algebra, Algebra, Why Algebra?

2005-09-20T08:52:00.000-07:00

I was reading through the daily news relating to education, specifically concerning Algebra. It seems Algebra has become a major hurdle to college students even though it is considered to be developmental math. Students are struggling to understand the basic concepts and arithmetic necessary for the mastery of Algebra.

I am in no way a math major. I struggled some with math in college, mainly with Pre-Calculus. Honestly the first time I took the course I made a "D" by the skin of my teeth. I immediately re-took the course during summer school. It was a five-credit course that met during both summer terms. It was all I did that summer. I slept, ate, and lived math that summer. I would work problems late into the night, wake up and go to the study lab and continue to work problems until class started. By the end of the summer I had earned an "A" in the class. The other students thought I was a math genius, which I wasn't, I just worked hard and practiced that summer, it required time.

The following article excerpt written from the perspective of a community college math instructor, sheds some light on the problem in that we are not allowing students the time to digest and understand the concepts. A student’s time can be fragmented with extracurricular activities or even work leaving little practice time to understand the concepts and become proficient. Again, I am not a math guru but I did learn one thing that summer, math requires practice just like anything else.

Math anxiety plus overbooked kids equals no solution

simultaneous linear equations

logarithms

It's this struggle student's have with Algebra that motivated us at college-cram.com to complete the College Algebra library first. We honestly want to help students to become successful in their academic endeavors.

A Study Management Site for College Students

2005-09-19T14:25:00.000-07:00

We have been thinking hard at the College-Cram headquarters, which involves a lot of spade playing, about what we can build to help students beyond our Cramlets. We are entertaining ideas about building some of the following:

quizzing and testing for basic content
text-book swap
academic calendar for students
study group functionality
quick reference guides

The list goes on and on, but we are open to ideas you might have. So, make a suggestion and let us know what would help you the most for getting through school by posting a comment.

It's a New Site!

2005-09-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

We have been working hard the last three months, listening to students and subscribers to learn more about what would benefit students the most. After all the research and learning new programming languages we are happy to present College-Cram.com New and Improved!

There are a couple of site philosophy changes -

The site is designed for university students only. We now require a university e-mail (.edu) address to register
Each user has a customizable launching page

We have further plans for enhancement of the site. This is only phase one. The future design will include more capabilities for student customization, interaction, and test preparation. Our hopes are to see individual College-Cram.com communities by campus where students are empowered with their own academic management system.

Stay Tuned For More!

...and now a word from our sponsor

2005-09-06T07:08:00.000-07:00

Can textbook publishers learn from television’s history?

In the early days of television, broadcasters turned to vaudeville and theater producers to create their programming. These producers simply created vaudeville and theater shows, and stuck a camera in the audience as an afterthought. They didn’t understand the capabilities of the new medium, and so did a minimal job incorporating it into their more familiar works. Eventually, it took an outside industry – Hollywood – to produce shows specifically for television, introducing techniques familiar to today’s viewers that made for a more effective medium.

College textbook publishers are experiencing a similar situation regarding the Internet. Like the early TV producers, today’s publishers continue to make textbooks, and convert them in some fashion into Internet components as an afterthought – vaudeville and theater are replaced by E-books and web sites that offer static illustrations and text. None of these are specifically produced for the Internet, and deviate only slightly from the traditional publishing paradigm.

By its very nature, the Internet is capable of providing far better (and less expensive) learning tools than those currently provided. College students are clamoring for these tools, but the textbook publishers have been inadequate to this task. Clearly, it is up to someone else to deliver on the Internet’s promise.

The Smartacus Corporation of Fort Worth, Texas is one company that delivers the goods. Their College-Cram.com website features a library of study programs covering college-level math, business, science, and languages. In many ways, these study programs are more effective learning tools than traditional textbooks.

Lower cost – College students spend $120 or more on each new textbook. Publishers, who get no revenue from “used” book sales, regularly publish new editions every three years to force more “new” book purchases; often these new editions are little changed from the preceding edition. College-Cram.com offers its entire library of study programs for only $15 per month, with further discounts for longer subscriptions.

Focused learning – Every study program in College-Cram.com’s library focuses on a single concept, such as calculating sales tax or the structure of the human heart. Students know which concepts they need to study, and need a way to get to them quickly without slogging through other concepts in the chapter that they already understand.

Effective teaching techniques – Study programs in the College-Cram.com library are presented in ways that best convey the intended concept, often addressing multiple learning styles to ensure the best learning experience. For example, tab-tutor programs include a labeled illustration (for the visual learner), two different ways to work the formula (for the hands-on learner), and a glossary of terms (for reading-oriented learners).

In addition, resources that are typically static are presented more effectively in this library. The Periodic Table and Logarithm Tables, for instance, come with instructions on how to use them, while financial statements provide explanations for each line item that are usually buried within the textbook, if provided at all.

True interactivity – Unlike the E-books and such offered by textbook publishers, College-Cram.com’s study programs are truly interactive. Formula-solvers, for example, accept numbers from the student and walk them through the steps required to solve math and science problems. Similarly, financial ratio solvers show the steps and also where to find the proper values on financial statements.

Those early vaudeville and theater producers ended up being replaced by their more effective film producer counterparts, who went on to transform the industry. Will the textbook publishers learn from television’s early history, and change their ways before it’s too late? Tune in next week…

An edition by any other name smells as sweet

2005-08-30T08:31:00.000-07:00

Every three years or so, textbook publishers release a new edition of a textbook. One has to wonder, though, why? Calculus hasn’t changed much since Sir Isaac Newton, so what’s the point? More importantly, what has changed from that last edition to the latest one?

In four words… not a whole lot. Sure, there are textbooks that change substantially from one edition to another – ones in dynamic subjects that actually change (like planetary geology, or current political science). Most textbooks, though, don’t change – especially introductory ones.

Let’s look at what does change from one edition to the next:

New Cover – This is the oldest trick in the book. Put a new cover on an old book and it looks like new! It makes the new edition look nicer, but it certainly doesn’t help you study any better.
Chapter Re-order – Another familiar trick is to juggle the order of chapters. This makes for a new book without bothering the authors, but it doesn’t help you a bit.
New Examples – This one’s a bit of help. Instead of the two examples in last edition, you get two different examples. Umm… maybe that isn’t much help after all.
New Pictures – Charts, tables, graphs, and photos, all appealing to our attention-disordered TV generation. The new stuff is no more effective than the old stuff, but once again they don’t need to bother the authors.
Error Correction – Woah, here’s something useful – fixing the damned errors! We paid good money for the old edition, they couldn’t throw that in too?!?

So what’s changed here? Nothing much, except for the price.

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain

2005-08-22T15:04:00.000-07:00

Some hidden reasons why college textbooks are so expensive

The National Association of College Stores has a breakdown of where each dollar goes for a new textbook. A closer look at their logic, though, reveals enough slight-of-hand to make Penn and Teller genuflect in awe.

First, let’s take their categories for the non-bookstore portion. (Face it, no matter what the publisher charges the bookstore is going to make their cut – at least they aren’t shy about telling you that.)

32.8 (42%) -- Paper, Printing, Editorial Costs
15.6 (20%) -- Publisher Marketing Costs
11.8 (15%) -- Author Income
10.2 (13%) -- Publisher General and Admin
1.0 (1%) -- Freight Expenses
7.2 (9%) -- Publisher Income

After removing the bookstore parts, we find that 78.6 cents per dollar go to the publisher. If we divide each number by 78.6, we get the percentage of textbook dollars attributed to each category.

(FYI, I’ve spent almost twenty years working in various capacities within the college textbook publishing industry, so I have more than a passing familiarity with what goes on behind the curtain.)

OK, let’s talk about these categories now:

Paper, Printing, Editorial Costs – Paper and printing are such a small part of the cost of a book that it’s embarrassing. Called PP&B in the industry (the ‘B’ is binding), this can run from $2 or less for a typical study guide to $12 or so for a high-quality art or biology text. So, pulling back this particular curtain, we find that the lion’s share of this category is editorial costs. I won’t address the relative worth of these editorial costs, but they are incurred whether publishers print a physical book or create an e-book. It’s easy to see, then, that the idea of going the e-book route is not going to do much to reduce the cost of the textbook.

Publisher Marketing Costs – Publishers send their sales people to your professor’s office to convince her/him to use their textbook. How do they do this? Certainly not by striving to produce the highest quality, most useful book imaginable. No, they give the professor armfuls of “free” stuff to help them teach the class – copies of the student text, instructor manuals, answer books, powerpoints, etc. They also dangle “free” stuff for the student to use, like student websites, bundled CDs, etc. Who do you think pays for all that free stuff? That’s right, you do.

Author Income – 15% royalties… are these guys on crack? Twenty years ago major authors were getting a 15% royalty, but not anymore. Go ahead and ask any of your professors who have written textbooks, they’ll tell you. The trend over recent years is to get royalties down to 10-12%, putting more profits in the publishers’ pockets.

Publisher General and Admin – All big businesses try their damnedest to avoid paying taxes using whatever legal means are available. (We’ll give them the benefit of the doubt on this one.)

Freight Expenses – Can’t do much with this one, except that recently at least one major college textbook publisher has begun charging the bookstores a restocking fee for returned books. This will reduce some of the freight expenses, but shouldn’t have much impact on the bottom-line cost of the book (although it is pissing off a lot of bookstore managers).

Publisher Income – The chart says this is 9%, but that’s too low. At the very least it’s got to be 12% or more, based solely on the reduced royalties being paid nowadays.

By conservative estimates, then, around half the cost of a textbook is attributed to the business practices of the publishing industry (editorial and marketing costs). E-books is not the way to bring down these costs, revamping the business practices is.

A Revolution for E-learning?

2005-08-15T09:07:00.000-07:00

E-learning remains a concept yet to reach its full potential. Still, while there have been incredible strides made within the industry in the last few years the revolution is still to come. I believe that once e-learning is implemented beyond the creation of Content Management Systems (CMS) into the higher education market then the real revolution will begin.

Many may argue the revolution is already here, pointing at more students participating in on-line courses because of the abilities of the CMS. An incredible amount of time and money has been spent developing the CMS and its capabilities to improve the administration and communication process between instructor and student.

A CMS does an incredible job of improving the administration aspect of delivering a course on-line, but e-learning is more than administration. At its heart, e-learning is learning. Do students learn purely from a well-orchestrated roll attendance, test delivery, or group think? E-learning should be centered on the delivery of solid content. Where is the content in CMS? Content Management Systems are crucial, but unfortunately, in some areas the publishers of textbooks are driving them.

Typically, the higher education market has depended upon the creation and organization of content from textbook publishers. A publisher seeks out authors from among the higher education market, primarily to secure adoption rates, and only secondarily to delivery content. Textbook publishers have one goal -- sell textbooks. With the recent trend of declining individual textbook sales the industry is seeking new avenues to increase the sale of the products. Each year the prices of textbooks increase as the individual unit sales decrease.

E-learning from a publisher’s point of view is another avenue to increase the sale of textbooks. The tools and content they are providing to instructors for use in the CMS systems are developed to support the textbook and make teaching easier for the instructor. Most of the tools are PowerPoint slides, quizzes, or digital copies of the book, with a few linear-based content presentations. None of these are truly new or innovative in their approach, or are focused on using the full capabilities of the medium to delivery quality content targeting the actual user - “Students.” It is time to move away from e-learning content produced for the purpose of increasing the sale of textbooks and produce true interactive e-learning modules that empower instructors and students.

The instructors are still key to the classroom. They are the administrators of ideas, concepts, theories, questions, and thought processes for students. E-learning ought to be designed and produced to allow an instructor to custom design their approach to teaching a course. It also should allow for students to access specific learning modules when they need it, without working through a course. It is through the creation of College-Cram.com and the library of learning modules, “cramlets,” that I have been able to explore the concepts of e-learning for the higher education market.

The approach of College-Cram.com has been to identify the core concepts of a subject and build a small Flash™ learning module only on an individual concept. The library consists of individual learning modules organized by concept. This allows students to seek out what they need to learn and gives instructors the tools to customize their course. By concentrating on the core concepts, a library of generic content is created empowering the user to build their own knowledge base.

There are some limitations to this approach as generic content creation only works with those courses that are built upon an agreed foundation of principles, theorems, and laws. Subject matters within science, math, business, and languages provide the best opportunity for this approach.

Revolution will occur for e-learning when the approach for higher education is not based upon the sale of textbooks but in providing access to viable, and desired content. The content must be interactive, customizable, and granular in design and administered using advance technologies of the 21st century in place of digital page turning programs.