EBooks/ MyLabs Commonly Asked Questions from Students
1.
I already have the book. Can you remove the eText charge from my account?
Course fees for eTextbooks and online supplements (simulations, labs, etc.) cannot be waived. Any
course fee applied to the cost of any course you take at DU cannot be waived for any reason.
However, in the case of eTextbooks, if you feel uncertain about using electronic texts, you may
choose to supplement these eTexts and online resources with a paper copy of course text(s).
However, you will still need to access and use the online resources. In many cases these online
resources contain interactive exercises, videos, and other multimedia-based tools NOT found in
paper copies.
Davenport wants to help you reach your goals and succeed. Providing access to eTextbooks and
supplemental learning tools from the first day of class is important to your success in a 7-week
class.
Please note that these course fees are subject to the policies on course fees outlined in the DU
course catalog. If you drop the course before the class starts then the e-book charge would also be
removed. However, if you withdraw after the course start date, the e-book charge is not refunded.
2. How do we go about purchasing/ acquiring the eTextbook?
You don’t have to do anything other than enroll in the course! Your online class shell in Blackboard
will provide links to the eTextbook and any supplemental information available to you as part of your
course fee. Some of these links will require you to login. Your instructor will provide login instructions
in Blackboard once the online course starts.
3. Can I sell the eTextbook back at the end of the term like I do with regular books?
ETextbooks cannot be sold back to the bookstore. With eTextbooks, you are paying for access to the
online materials which is less expensive for you than purchasing a traditional, bound textbook. So,
your cost savings come up front when you are billed for the course fee instead of having to buy the
more expensive hard copy of the book. If you choose to supplement your eTextbook with a hard
copy book, you can still sell that hard copy book back to MBS if you elect to do so.
4. Will the eTextbooks be available outside of Blackboard?
Direct links to access your online textbook are embedded in your Blackboard course. If you
bookmark these links you can access them outside the class. Right now, your eTextbooks and the
supplemental materials are available to you as long as you have access to your Blackboard shell. If
you want to have a hard copy to add to your personal library, you may be able to purchase a used
copy at a reduced cost. Remember, though, the hard copy book will not contain all the interactive
exercises that you may have included as part of your course fee.
5. Are these eTextbooks compatible with screen readers?
Currently, Davenport use eTextbooks and online interactive activities/ tools provided through Pearson
publishers. The following website has information on accessibility of these tools
http://www.mymathlab.com/accessibility.
6. To meet with my tutor will require the textbook so my tutor can reference the materials. How
would this be possible with the eBook?
You have a few options here. You could print the segment of your textbook you need and bring just
those few pages to your tutor. Most eTexts allow you to print a page or two. Alternately, you could
login and access the materials online with your tutor. If you met with your tutor in one of DU’s LInC
locations you can use the computers in the LInC. If you hire a private tutor, you could meet in a
public library if you do not have a laptop that you can bring to your tutoring session. Logging in with
your tutor may be the better option since then your tutor can also see and help you with any
supplemental activities and assignments only available online.
7. Can these eTextbooks be downloaded to my laptop and read offline?
Different eTextbooks have different formats. The eTextbooks used right now in your online class at
Davenport are truly online-- they are like websites that you go to and read/ view online while
connected to the internet. The eTextbooks cannot be downloaded. Other eTextbooks are offered as
PDF files that students can download. However, in the past this approach has caused problems
because students usually can only download it once. In this scenario, if you were to download the
eBook to your home computer then want to access the text from the LInC, you would not be able to
do so. As the industry continues to evolve and standardize the format of eTextbooks, we'll likely see
continued changes and improvements in these options.
8. How will I find out how to access my eText?
Your online class shell in Blackboard will provide links to the eTextbook and any supplemental
information available to you as part of your course fee. When you login to your Blackboard class, the
left navigation menu contains links to the course syllabus, weekly materials and eBooks (among other
things). Some of these links will require you to login. Your instructor will provide login instructions in
Blackboard once the online course starts.
9. Can these eBooks be printed? If so, could you please tell me the approximate number of
pages in this eBook?
One advantage of eTexts is reduced environmental impact through reduced paper and ink usage.
To maintain this advantage it is important to acclimate to reading online rather than printing out the
textbook. If you would like to have a hard copy, you may purchase a print copy to supplement the
online version of your class text. Remember, though, the hard copy book will not contain all the
interactive exercises that you may have included as part of your course fee.
However, because there are times when you may want to print a small section, most eTextbooks
allow you to print a page or two, but they are set up so you cannot print the entire book at once.
Page length of an eTextbook varies greatly from text to text, just like the hard copy versions of books
are varied in length.
10. Who do I contact for technical help once the semester begins?
If you cannot get into the MyLab required for your class (if you are in a class that uses MyLabs) first
make sure you are going to the right URL. You should be accessing this online learning lab through:
https://davenport.edu/mylabs
When you go to this link, you should see what looks like the davenportal user login. If you
can’t get in but see the davenportal login page, contact contact Davenport’s Student
Technology Support:
Student Technology Support
877-899-1499 or ext. 1200
Monday to Thursday 10am to 8pm
Friday 10am to 5pm
Student Technology Support’s online knowledgebase and ticket submission portal is
located at: http://supportsuite.davenport.edu
Please note: There is a 24-36 hour delay between when a student registers for class and
when they are able to access the MyLabs system.
All other technical questions about the MyLabs should go through the MyLab tech support
listed below.
MyLab Support:
Phone: (888) 883-1299
Email: helpdesk@davenport.mylabsplus.com (response within 24 hours)