Publishing Case Studies and Papers

Case Studies - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Case Study

Background

Students demand more from online textbooks than just reading words from a computer. Students need something further to motivate and engage them in order for learning to become an exciting adventure.

Harcourt Education understood that it is not enough just to digitize a book, but that any online content needs to incorporate integrated online activities to enhance the learning process. In 2002 it engaged VCIL (Value Chain International) to implement i) interactive learning resources such as video and audio features that compliment lessons in the books, and ii) various test formats and online assessment programs.

Business Solution

VCIL started to convert content, such as books and test items, not just from hardcopy paper based sources, but also from digital PDF, Quark, and InDesign files to XML templates provided by Harcourt.

VCIL tagged various input formats for state specific online editions and test items. A standard set of XML templates was created so VCIL could produce at least four to five output formats based on state needs.

Unique features such as Live Ink was made available in most online versions of Harcourt textbooks. Live Ink helps students become better readers. It conveys visual cues to sentence structure through a method of re-formatting text in a visually friendly, cascading phrase style that helps increase comprehension of the subject matter in textbooks.

Online materials covered various disciplines such as Social Studies, World Languages, Language Arts, Math, and Science.

Students now have access to interactive learning resources such as video and audio features that compliment lessons in the books. Various test formats and online assessment programs also offer a unique online experience.

Approach

VCIL has partnered with Harcourt since 2002 offering exclusive conversion services for their proprietary publishing platform called Alchemy.

Harcourt project mangers and VCIL team members work in synchronization to make each and every project a success story.

Familiarity with the Harcourt content, and the experience within Harcourt business units enabled VCIL to implement a useful and effective online student program.

VCIL moved into the role of solutions provider and strategic partner for Harcourt Education. It offered single source solutions, a “value add” model that enabled the corporation to incorporate composition, conversion, and content delivery in a streamlined process.

Achievement
In addition to students being more engaged with the curriculum, individualized and interactive online programs meant that students could access texts and other materials from any computer at any time, rather than carrying heavy course material around. Students were also able to be assessed and given feedback instantly.

On the business side, VCIL was able to identify and establish key workflow strategies and streamline processes that produced great models for other groups within Harcourt to leverage. These efforts then lead to resource efficiencies, cost savings, and shorter time to market, as well as repurpose the same content for print or online ready products.

“Heinemann Secondary, part of the Harcourt Education group, has been working with VCIL for over a year, in which time we have collaborated on numerous software projects aimed at 11-14 year olds. VCIL has produced many of the Flash animations used within those projects. Working from written briefs, the team at VCIL has proved excellent at interpreting our requirements across a variety of different subject areas. Communication has invariably been extremely good, even given the time differential between the UK and India. Turnaround time has also been fast, without compromising the standard of the work. We have found VCIL a very cost-effective and efficient solution to our needs, and will be very happy to continue working with them in the future.” Martin Hibbert, Electronic Development Manager, Heinemann Secondary

About Harcourt
Harcourt, based in Austin, Texas is a recognized leader in secondary educational publishing in language arts, science, social studies, math, and world languages.

Since 1866, Harcourt has been in the business of helping teachers teach and students learn. By offering a wide range of instructional materials that include curriculum-based textbooks, eLearning sites, CD-ROMs, and other support and reference materials, Harcourt is creating interactive learning adventures.