Expensive textbook updates rated for usefulness

Raygun aims to help learners cut down their outgoings by offering CLONE reports, which identify those textbook updates with little value compared to the potentially cheaper previous edition.

Both new and returning college students heading onto campus this month will find themselves facing the daunting costs of reading list textbooks, especially when their tutors suggest they purchase the latest editions. Raygun aims to help learners cut down their financial outgoings by offering CLONE reports, which identify those textbook updates with little value compared to the potentially cheaper previous edition. According to Raygun, the price difference between an old edition and the most up-to-date edition can often be as much as 95 percent, even if only minor changes have been made. Standing for Content Lacking Originality in New Editions, the startup’s CLONE reports aim to make it easier for students to see what additional content has been added to subsequent pressings of textbooks and help them decide which edition to buy. Each report contains information on changes to the text, images, and mock test or problem sections, and also includes a Rayscore – a percentage value which indicates how close the editions are to each other. Raygun currently has its own library of reports – priced at USD 15 each and available in downloadable PDF format – but users can suggest titles for the company to analyze next. The following video explains more about the concept behind Raygun: We’ve already seen Reference Tree enable students to buy electronic versions of individual textbook chapters to save money and – with the cost of higher education increasing – Raygun also aims to help undergraduates take advantage of the savings available through older textbooks that have retained their educational value. Are there any other ways to enable students to cut the cost of their learning? Spotted by: Murray Orange