RM starts e-book revolution

Education specialist launches RM Books - a system designed to help schools make the switch to e-books

RM Education is hoping to capitalise on the e-book explosion by launching RM Books, the first e-book system designed specifically for schools.

The online system is hardware agnostic, and enables schools to rent, buy and manage e-books which can be viewed on, or downloaded to most iOS, Windows, Mac and Android devices.

Schools can use the system to access hundreds of curriculum textbooks from leading education publishers using a specially designed pricing model that is sympathetic to tight school budgets, the VAR claimed.

RM recently commissioned an independent survey that identified the major barriers to adoption of e-books in schools, with the three main obstacles being: cost of transition, management of e-books and hardware devices, and access to e-books.

Using the RM system, students can download or view textbooks at school, home or on the move.

Martyn Ratcliffe, RM executive chairman, said: “Schools and teachers strive to provide the best learning resources available and students want to access those resources through their computer, tablet or phone.

“Over the next five years, the delivery of educational content will change dramatically and our research confirms the desire of teachers to enable their students to benefit from this exciting transformation.

“Digital textbooks are a critical stepping stone along this path, but the current budget constraints and the technology investments previously required have restricted UK schools’ participation in this transition. RM has used its detailed understanding of the technology environment in schools to remove the obstacles to e-book adoption and now every UK school can benefit from the e-book revolution.”