Flat World Knowledge
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| Private | |
| Industry | Education |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C., United States |
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Area served
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Global |
|
Key people
|
Christopher Etesse, CEO; James Rianhard, President |
| Products | Textbooks |
| Website | Flat World Knowledge |
Flat World Knowledge is a publisher of college-level textbooks and educational supplements founded in 2007 by Eric Frank and Jeff Shelstad. Its company headquarters are in Washington, DC. The company originally offered every textbook published for free using online delivery under the open content paradigm, but in November 2012, the company announced that it will no longer offer a free version citing financial concerns as the reason for the change. Educator teaching supplements and materials consistent with industry norms are available at no charge.
Flat World Knowledge was founded in 2007 by Jeff Shelstad and Eric Frank in Nyack, New York.
Flat World Knowledge began alpha testing of their platform and business model spring of 2008. Two alpha phases involved faculty and one alpha phase involved students. The company then moved to small-scale private beta testing in 27 classes. Based on results from these studies, the business model was determined viable and the company moved toward preparing for a public beta launch in January 2009.
During spring of 2009, 30 colleges adopted Flat World open textbooks in public beta bringing the company their first 1,000 users. Eight textbooks were published at the time. By August 2009, Flat World textbooks had been adopted at 400 colleges for use by 40,000 students.
Flat World Knowledge and Lyryx Learning Team Up to Offer Free and Open Textbooks With Integrated Assessment.
The company also published a graphic novel, Atlas Black: Managing to Succeed in August.
Flat World Knowledge moved from Nyack, New York to Irvington, New York to accommodate company growth.
Cerritos College selected Flat World Knowledge as their partner for an Open Textbook Initiative implemented in the school's Business Administration Department. Cerritos College evaluated the program and determined it a "tremendous success" according to a 2010 article published in Community College Week. Specific items evaluated and commented on are:
Flat World Knowledge entered into a unique licensing agreement with Virginia State University in 2010. For eight core business courses, students gained access to all electronic formats of select textbooks including study aids. Unlike traditional licensing models, students retain access to course materials and study aids indefinitely through their Flat World student account. Audio textbook versions and ePub files similarly do not expire. The price for this universal digital access license is cited as $20 per student by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
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