Al-Diwan Roundup: News and Analysis from Publishing and Academia

Education

The Systematisation of Higher Education in the United States
By Howard P. Segal (Times Higher Education)

Although consolidating the U.S. public higher education system is supposed to make it more efficient, Howard P. Segal writes that such a method has its setbacks.

The Real Legacy of MOOCs: Better Introductory Courses
By Joshua Kim (PBS)

Have Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) conquered the world as planned? Not quite, but they have made an impact on how introductory courses are being taught in universities.

What’s Wrong With MOOCs, and Why Aren’t They Changing the Game in Education?
By Harman Singh (Wired)

Despite the hype, MOOCs haven’t changed the education game completely, mostly because they continue to be an evolving model of where education is heading in the future.

Adjunct Pay and Anger
By Joseph Fruscione (Inside Higher Ed)

Two adjunct professors at George Washington University are interviewed about the hazards of pay and privilege in the world of adjuncts.

Publishing

How One Publisher Ditched Amazon and Succeeded
By Aaron Gell (Slate)

Book distributor Educational Development Corporation took a gamble when it departed from the online store giant Amazon, but the company lived to see another day (and reap benefits).

What You Need to Know About Amazon’s Fight with E-book Publishers
By Steve Dent (Engadget)

Engadget explains the latest tit for tat Amazon has embroiled itself in. This time, Amazon is at odds with Hachette over e-book prices.

Plot Thickens as 900 Writers Battle Amazon
By David Streitfeld (New York Times)

In an attempt to free writers from being hostages in Amazon’s latest attempt to dominate the publishing market, hundreds of writers (including high profile names like J.K. Rowling and Stephen King) take matters into their own hands.

Why Open Access Advocates Aren’t Thrilled With the DOE’s Plan to Expand Public Access to Its Research
By Andrea Peterson (The Washington Post)

Publishers and open access advocates are debating whether the Department of Energy’s plan to grant public access to troves of research and data is a good idea.

The Opportunities and Challenges of Online Open Access Publishing
By Erik Voeten (The Washington Post)

Erik Voeten discusses some of the challenges facing online open-access publishing ahead of a panel addressing the issue at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association (APSA).

Open Access Papers ‘Gain More Traffic and Citations’
By Paul Jump (Times Higher Education)

According to a study by the Research Information Network, authors who had paid for their publications to be made open access had their work viewed and cited more.