Getting students started with IU eTexts

First, congratulations on helping all your students have access to your required course materials and lowering their costs for it!

The purpose of this page is to help you with the next step: getting students into the text for the first time, so they will know how to access and use it throughout the term. You’ll see the most impact using eTexts if you Communicate with students about the eText early in the semester and Create an eText assignment in Canvas to guide students accessing their eText for the first time.

Multi-section courses

Please check each of your sections in Canvas when you receive the email notification that your etext has been loaded. If you find the etext is not loaded in a section, email etexthelp@iu.edu to get this resolved. For cross-listed courses, see the KB doc About cross-listing courses with IU eTexts.

Step 1: Communicate

Post a Canvas Announcement (see Canvas Guide: How do I add an announcement to a course?) to your students a week or two before the term starts to bring their attention to the eText and the resources for how to use it. For example:

As noted in the Schedule of Classes, I will be teaching this class with IU eTexts. For more information, see: The Student Guide to IU eTexts. Please familiarize yourself with the etext before the first day of class.

Step 2: Create an eText assignment in Canvas

Your course may be your students' first experience using an eText on Engage, so it's important to give them specific guidance to access it. A low-stakes assignment makes accessing the etext for the first time a priority for students by associating it with points and a due date. It can be compelling to be transparent about this assignment by stating the purpose and value to the students to encourage their engagement:

The purpose of this assignment is for you to learn how to access your eText and use the Notes function in Engage. This is for a grade because we will be using this text throughout the semester, and it's important that you know how to use it.

Import "Getting Started with Your eText" assignment

The IU eText team has created a getting-started assignment and support materials that you can import into your Canvas course to use in your class(es).

In this assignment students are provided instructional videos about using the features of the IU eText reader then asked to access their eText, navigate to the first chapter, create a note there, and take a screenshot of that note for submission.

Follow these instructions to view and import this assignment and quick start guide into your course(s):

Log in to Canvas and click Commons in the global (far left) navigation.
Click on this link to Using IU eText (Engage) - Quick Start Guide.
Review the materials.
Click Import/Download, choose the course(s) where you want them to appear, then click Import into Course.
Return to your Canvas course and locate the "Getting Started..." assignment
Edit the assignment to set the point value and due date.
Save & Publish the assignment and/or quick start guide when you want students to have access.
Click Modules in the left navigation, and publish the module "Using IU eText..."

Supporting DEIJ

Communicating about and guiding students to your courses' etext intentionally supports equal access to what is probably the most important course material: the textbook/readings. This is especially impactful on students who have never used an etext before and might otherwise be at a disadvantage.

Next Steps

See Using eTexts in & out of class for activities you can use to encourage deeper reading and engagement (as well as providing you evidence of engagement), or see the following Stories of IU instructors enhancing learning with etexts: