Additional Notes From The Hackley Department Chairs
When Hackley decided to issue iPads to students of the upper school for use in their learning, we also began working toward increasing the number of digital textbooks used across our curricula. Along with our desire to capitalize on benefits found with the use of digital texts, we are also working to reduce the overall backpack weight for our students and helping families realize some financial savings over the cost of many traditional hardcopy texts.
As you shop the MBS online bookstore, you will note that many courses now include the option to purchase a digital book in lieu of a hardcopy or paperback. However, this increased choice of textbook formats has also caused some confusion and elicited a number of questions. It is our hope that this document may help answer many of those questions.
What is VitalSource and what is the VitalSource Bookshelf app?
VitalSource is a leading provider of digital content for learning, and has partnered with MBS to bring these digital options to Hackley families. The VitalSource Bookshelf app is the app, pre-installed on the student’s iPad by Hackley, that will be used by students to access the digital book. When shopping through the MBS site, those courses offering a digital eBook will have that option labeled as Digital eBook.
What if I Bought Hardcover or Paperback Textbooks?
If you have purchased hardcover or paperback books from MBS, then the purchase and delivery process remains unchanged from past years.
Creating Your VitalSource Account
To either download, install, or read a VitalSource digital book, each student must first create a free account within the VitalSource environment – https://www.vitalsource.com. That account can be created beforehand or during the first download.
Installing Texts from the MBS Digital Bookshelf
After your purchases, and while logged into the MBS Direct site, tap or click Menu => Digital Content. This will bring you to the MBS Digital Bookshelf – the location where your purchases are stored and available. Using the iPad, the student would tap on the Access button next to their selected item. This will result in the iPad automatically opening the VitalSource Bookshelf app. Login to VitalSource if prompted, and you will be able to access your digital book.
VitalSource Purchases with a 365-day and Perpetual with Download Subscription
Students will notice that some VitalSource eBook purchases come with 365-day online eRental and/or 365 perpetual with download. Both of these options have the 365 day access that can be used to read your book while online. With an eRental this online access will expire after 365 days. The perpetual with download option allows a student, at anytime during the school year, to download their VitalSource book to their iPad. This “download” option will allow students to access the book when offline, and there is no expiration for a downloaded book – it will remain with the student after the class and school year has ended.
Digital Text Options Available In Each Academic Department
(100s) English Department
(190) Psychology
The texts for this course are available in both hardcopy OR digital formats. Students can choose either option. It is NOT necessary to purchase both formats!
All other English courses are requiring either paperback or hardcover texts for their courses. There are no digital options available for any English course other than Psychology.
Note – 10th and 11th grade English faculty will require certain readings and texts specific to their classes. Following the opening of school, parents of 10th and 11th graders are asked to revisit the MBS store to purchase those instructor specific texts.
(200s) History Department
(201) History 9
Although MBS only carries the paperback version of the texts for this class, if preferred, students can purchase the digital versions from Amazon and use the Kindle app on their iPad to access the book. Please make sure that you use the correct ISBN number, (found on the MBS site) to search for the correct Kindle version.
(204) U.S. to 1900, (205) Economics
The texts for these courses are available in both hardcopy OR digital formats. Students can choose either option. It is NOT necessary to purchase both formats for any specific class!
(300s) Mathematics Department
(304) Pre-Calculus, (309) AP Statistics, (312) AP Calculus AB/BC, (328) AP Calculus I AB, (329) Calculus-Based AP Statistics
Students can purchase either the hard copy text OR the VitalSource digital version. It is NOT necessary to purchase both formats for any specific class!
(303) Advanced Algebra 2, (365) Algebra 2
Students can purchase EITHER the hard copy text, Algebra and Trigonometry – Package (Nasta Edition), or the MyMathLab digital version. It is NOT necessary to purchase both! The MyMathLab option will provide you with an access code which should be retained. After the start of school your child’s teacher will provide a class code to assist students with the completion of their access to the digital text. Note – MyMathLab is only accessible when online.
(400s) Science Department
(404) Biology, (414) Cellular Biology
The text for these classes comes in three different formats and configurations. It is NOT necessary to purchase multiple or all formats!
The configurations include the following and students can choose which option they would prefer:
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The Campbell Biology: Concepts and Connections – with Access – includes both the hardcopy text and the eText with Access to Pearson’s additional support materials.
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The Campbell Biology: Concepts and Connections, Mastering Biology and eText – Access – includes the digital text plus access to support materials. No hardcopy version of the text is included with this option.
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The Campbell Biology: Concepts and Connections, Mastering Biology – Text Only – This option is as written – simply the textbook.
(405) AP Biology
The text for this class is available in EITHER hardcopy or digital formats. Students can choose their preferred format. It is not necessary to purchase both formats!
(408) Chemistry, (410) Accelerated Chemistry, (413) Organic Chemistry
The texts come in EITHER hardcopy or digital formats. It is NOT necessary to purchase multiple or all formats! The digital format requires an access code. Once purchased, the access code must be retained and will be needed again at the start of school. Your child’s teacher will provide an additional class code to assist each student in completing their access to the digital text and materials.
(411) AP Chemistry
The purchase of the High School: Math and Science-Access by Cengage/WebAssign will result in the student receiving an access code. This access code should be retained and brought to class at the start of school. The teacher will assist the students with accessing this resource. It will provide students with their homework problems and also give students access to the textbook. Two OPTIONAL items items to purchase for this course, the Chemistry – Study Guide and the Chemistry, AP Edition (High School) by Zumdahl are both offered in either hardcopy or digital format. Students can purchase the format they prefer. It is NOT necessary to purchase multiple or all formats!
(418) Physics
The Physics First text is only available in a digital format. It can be purchased through Apple iBooks or through through the MBS bookstore. Following the purchase of the text through MBS, a student will see an authorization code on the MBS Digital Bookshelf. Students should copy that code. Students then tap the Access button within their MBS Digital Bookshelf. This will automatically take them to the Apple App Store. When prompted, they can copy/paste their authorization code displayed on the Digital Bookshelf to the App Store prompt. Additionally when prompted, the student will be asked to enter the Apple ID password used on their Hackley iPad.
(421) AP Physics and (425) Advanced Physics
The texts come in EITHER hardcopy or digital formats. It is NOT necessary to purchase multiple or all formats!
(500s) Modern Languages
We recommend that students purchase new versions of the Vista Higher Learning (VHL) package for their language – Descubre for Spanish and D’Accord for French. These packages will arrive with the textbook and a very important card/document bundled in the package. This card/document contains the student’s access code to the VHL SuperSite and should NOT be thrown away! Please retain that card and bring it to school. Our Modern Language teachers use the VHL SuperSite in their classes and can assist students in configuring their access.
(505) French V
The texts come in EITHER hardcopy or digital formats. It is NOT necessary to purchase multiple or all formats!
(All levels) Chinese
Students in the Chinese program use multiple websites and electronic learning tools for class assignments and language reinforcement in class and at home. These include e-books, Lingt, Better Chinese, FluentU and other Chinese language sites. All Chinese language students should have access at home to a computer with a headphone and microphone as well as printer and internet access. The home computers and iPads should set up to type Chinese characters using Pinyin or with character tracing recognition. Ms. Wen or Mr. Sheldon should be contacted should you have any questions about specific websites.
(600s) Classics Department
All courses in the Classics Department require that a hardcopy of the text be purchased. No digital options are available for courses in our Classics Department.
(700s) Computer Department