CourseSmart - Help

Help

General Information

What is CourseSmart?

CourseSmart is an online marketplace for digital college course materials. It brings together thousands of popular textbooks in electronic format for instructors to sample and students to purchase.

Instructors can use CourseSmart to find and review all of the information they need to choose their text or course materials, and it gives students immediate access to the materials their professors assign. CourseSmart is also a great value for students who are concerned about the rising cost of college, since digital materials can cost up to 50 percent less than traditional textbooks.

CourseSmart is supported by a wide variety of higher education publishers. By providing a common environment and platform for reviewing, buying, and using digital course materials, we hope to meet the needs of instructors and students who are prefer the flexibility and lower cost of digital textbooks.

Back to the top

What are eTextbooks?

CourseSmart eTextbooks are digital versions of print textbooks enhanced with features such as high-speed search and electronic note-taking. CourseSmart eTextbooks come in two version: online version and downloadable version.

CourseSmart online eTextbooks are viewed through a web browser connected to the Internet. What's more, online eTextbooks require no special plug-ins so you don't have to download anything to your computer. Just log in, subscribe to an eTextbook, and start reading.

Course downloadable eTextbooks are downloaded to your computer. These eTextbooks are viewed through a downloaded CourseSmart reader on your computer. Your eTextbook is available locally on your computer for the lenght of your subscription whether or not your are online.

Every effort is made to make an eTextbook look exactly like its comparable print version, including page numbers and the placement of figures, tables, and images. eTextbooks have the same content as print editions and include a feature that lets you "jump" to a specific page or chapter. You can easily find page numbers referenced in reading or homework assignments or your instructor's syllabus.

Back to the top

I'm a student. I need help signing in?

Before you can sign in you must create an account. Click the "Create Account" link in the upper right corner of the page then complete the form. Once you have created an account, use the email and password from your account to sign in.

Back to the top

I'm an instructor. I need help signing in?

Before you can sign in you must create an account. In some cases an account may have been created for you by one of CourseSmart's publisher partners to give you access to one of their textbooks online. You would have received an email notification (either from welcome@coursesmart.com or update@coursesmart.com) containing your sign in information including password. If you can no longer locate this email, simply enter your faculty email address into the email field, and click the "Forgot Password" link. If you have never before signed in, you may leave the security question blank (you will be prompted to complete it when you log in). Click the "Retrieve Password" button. If your account alreay exists you will be sent an email with your password momentarily. If your account does not exist, click the "Create Account" link in the upper right corner of the page then complete the form. Once you have created an account, use the email and password from your account to sign in.

Back to the top

How does a CourseSmart eTextbook subscription work?

When you subscribe to your first CourseSmart eTextbook, you'll be asked to create a unique username and password. Use this information to sign in to the CourseSmart site every time you want to read this eTextbook, or to subscribe to other CourseSmart eTextbooks.

Once you have subscribed to a CourseSmart eTextbook, you can access that book for the stated subscription period, typically matching the term of use (e.g. 180 days for 1 semester, 360 days for 2 semesters). During your subscription period you can search within the book, add notes and read the book.

After that time, the online version of the eTextbook will still appear under My eTextbooks on your My CourseSmart page but will be labeled "Expired". Expired downloadable versions of the eTextbooks will remain on your CourseSmart Bookshelf until you purchase another downloadable eTextbook or update your license. You can always re-subscribe to any expired eTextbook. You can cancel an online subscription to an eTextbook for a full refund within the first two weeks of purchasing your subscription. Downloadable eTextbooks are not refundable. See Canceling & Renewing eTextbook Subscriptions below.

Back to the top

Can I buy regular print textbooks on CourseSmart?

CourseSmart only offers digital eTextbooks at this time.

Back to the top

I'm an instructor. How can I request an exam copy?

From any book detail page, instructors that have signed into CourseSmart can Request An Online Exam Copy. Just fill out the information and click Submit. Your information will be validated by our partners, and you will receive an email notification that your eTextbook is available for evaluation at My CourseSmart.

Back to the top

I'm an instructor. How do I get instant access to exam copies?

To get instant access to online exam copies on CourseSmart, you first need to have been given access to at least one online exam copy from any of our partner publishers. When this happens, you are authenticated as an instructor and pre-approved to get instant access to any eTextbook available on CourseSmart in the disciplines you teach.

To get started...

  1. Sign In
  2. Complete the requested information on your My Profile page
  3. Select "Yes, I want Instant Access" and click "Submit"

When you want instant access to new eTextbooks...

  1. Search CourseSmart for new titles in the disciplines you teach
  2. Click "Request Online Exam Copy" for eTextbooks you want access to and submit your request--publisher approval typically happens within 48 hours or less
  3. While the publisher is approving your request, the eTextbook is added instantly to your account and you have access to it from your My CourseSmart page. You can view or print any 25 unique pages immediately-you choose which pages to view or print
  4. Once the publisher approves your request, you will have full access to the complete eTextbook

Back to the top