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I once asked a professor - why you don't tell the students that they can get older version of the text book that's 90% cheaper, and the content is essentially t
by iamcreasy 10y ago
I once asked a professor - why you don't tell the students that they can get older version of the text book that's 90% cheaper, and the content is essentially the same - to which he replied, he isn't allowed to say it in the class because of the deal their school has with the university book store and the publisher.
But he also said, he drops hints about it in the first class. On the syllabus it says 'X book or other versions'. It's up-to the student to figure our what it means.
It's especially heartbreaking when you find someone struggling to buy $200 book just to get the online access code, or he will fail the course. He didn't even pay that much to sign up for the class.
That's why initiatives like openstax(by Bill and Melinda gates foundation) and wiki books makes me so happy.
- blahedo 10y agoI actually told my bookstore that students this fall could use either the 2nd or 3rd edition of a book (Sipser, which for the record is breathtakingly expensive, but the 3rd edition is nearly identical to the 2nd, right down to the typesetting), not really expecting them to follow through. To my surprise, they did---the bookstore website lists both editions and says either is acceptable. ...but if you buy or rent them at the college bookstore, they cost about the same. D'oh. On the open market, used copies of the 2nd edition go for less than a third the price of used copies of the 3rd. (So I sent my students an email apprising them of the situation and suggesting they get their orders in before the thousands of other CS students buying their fall textbooks. :)
- iamcreasy 10y agoThank you Sir. You are my hero.