CourseNotes Overview

What Are eCornell CourseNotes?
eCornell CourseNotes are another way to enhance your eCornell learning experience to help you take notes, highlight important information, search for key words and phrases, and read materials while you are not online. CourseNotes utilize software designed by VitalSource Technologies to provide you with an easy to use tool to view your CourseNotes and organize them to suit your own needs. CourseNotes download to your computer, much like music files, so that you can access them anywhere and any time you are at your computer.

Unlike other e-books, CourseNotes are much more than "pictures of pages" — you have the ability to search the CourseNotes of single courses, or any group of CourseNotes that you have purchased. You can also take searchable notes, highlight important portions of the course, easily print out each module, customize your page views, and even copy-and-paste content with bibliographic support.

How Do They Work?
CourseNotes requires a free software download of the VitalSource Bookshelf. The Bookshelf allows you to download your CourseNotes to up to two separate computers, so you can have a copy at home and at work. CourseNotes and the VitalSource Bookshelf are compatible with Windows PCs and Macs. The redemption code will become available to you on your my eCornell page once your course begins.

You don't need to be connected to the Internet to use your CourseNotes; you can read, highlight, or take notes whenever you are at your computer. The Bookshelf is designed to allow you to customize your page layout so you can read the material exactly the way you want to see it. You can choose from a Browser, Column, or Reading view. You can search your CourseNotes easily using key words and phrases.

You have the ability to highlight content in CourseNotes and to choose your highlighting color in order to differentiate different pieces of information. You can also take notes right in the bookshelf about the materials and have your notes be fully searchable.

After you install VitalSource Bookshelf, you can also view your CourseNotes on your mobile phone! VitalSource has a dedicated Bookshelf app available in the Apple App store for iOS devices (e.g. iPhone, iPad, iTouch), and also offers a mobile web version of course notes for other smart phone users. Just search for VitalSource Technologies in the app store, or point your mobile browser to http://online.vitalsource.com.

You can also search multiple CourseNotes simultaneously to provide you with information about a topic, like effective communication, that is discussed in more than one eCornell course.

What Courses Have CourseNotes Available?
Most eCornell courses have CourseNotes available now. Some courses have their CourseNotes currently in development and will be available soon. We will contact current and former students when CourseNotes for courses they have taken become available.

How Much Do They Cost?
Course notes are available to our individual customers for US$29.00 each, payable by credit card. Learners who enrolled through an eCornell corporate client may be eligible for reduced rates. Please see your My eCornell page for more information. eCornell CourseNotes are not refundable once purchased.

How Can I Purchase CourseNotes ?
CourseNotes are available exclusively to learners who are currently registered for/taking an eCornell course or have taken the course in the past. When you are eligible to purchase CourseNotes for your eCornell course, an icon will be displayed on your My eCornell page indicating which CourseNotes is/are available for purchase.

Remember to Check the Previous Courses tab on My eCornell to see if CourseNotes are available for courses you have already completed.

What do CourseNotes Look Like?