How We Work

As a publishing company, GRL focuses on challenging the status quo of traditional textbook publishers. Why? We know there’s a better way to engage students than the conventional 900-page static book; which we know students don’t read. We’re committed to developing publications that are well designed, media-rich, flexible, and powerful for both students and educators. We’re interested in developing products in a variety of disciplines and are searching for quality author candidates.

How do we determine if GRL is a good fit?

If Great River Learning and our prospective author share an interest in exploring partnership possibilities, we will establish an Agreement and schedule a project planning meeting. For one to two hours we’ll brainstorm, conceptualize the publication’s goals, scope, pedagogical design, and establish an editorial schedule. Upon completion of the project planning meeting GRL will compile the ideas and pedagogical structure into a “blueprint.” It’s at this point that we’ll both collectively have enough information to determine if it makes sense to proceed. If the answer is “yes” both GRL and our prospective author will sign-off on the blueprint and start development.

Author Candidate Interview

We start with a prospective author candidate interview. We want to make sure that the proposed project makes good business sense for GRL and that the author’s goals are in line with our vision as a company. Once we identify a potential new project and author for our company, there are several steps we take to further explore the viability of working together.

Publishing Agreement

If both GRL and the prospective author agree to explore a partnership, GRL will present a Publishing Agreement. The Publishing Agreement is finalized after the project’s Blueprint is established and approved by all parties.

Project Planning Meeting

The project planning meeting is facilitated by our Lead Web Project Editors and Instructional Design Consultant. There are three phases:

Brainstorming

The first phase focuses on brainstorming. It’s a chance for our author candidate to share their ideas on what should be incorporated into the publication. It also gives us, as the publisher, an opportunity to share our insights and experiences as it relates to instructional design and publishing in general.

Conceptualization / Pedagogy & Instructional Design

In the second phase, we will make decisions on pedagogy and instructional design. We make decisions on how we are going to approach or treat each of the topics or chapters. For example, if measuring growth is important, we may decide to include pre and post assessments. We may also decide to incorporate other items such as readings, videos, interactive exercises, and practice problems into each chapter. With these ideas in place, we will develop a blueprint to serve as a roadmap for the vision of the publication.

Editorial Schedule

In the last phase, we will develop a mutually agreed upon editorial schedule. We inventory what content we already have and identify what content needs to still be developed. From this conversation, we will determine when the first launch/edition of the project will be available for students. We determine schedules on a reasonable scope, based on both workload and time.

Develop

GRL brings a number of resources to the table. Each project is assigned a Web Project Editor. They will work with our entire editorial team to facilitate copyediting, permission clearance, design, layout, and the development of interactive exercises. Once we have enough content, the Web Project Editor will present a chapter prototype to ensure we are all on the same page with organization and aesthetics. We also have the ability to program new functionalities as appropriate.

Launch

Once all of the content has been received from the author and developed by GRL, the publication is ready for its first launch. GRL will provide training and support to anyone that will be utilizing the publication. The students can purchase access to their print and/or online publication at the bookstore or directly through GRL’s online ecommerce site.

After the initial launch and at an appropriate time, the project will be handed-off to a project editor. The PE will become the primary point of contact for the maintenance and enhancement of the project. The PE also “cleans-up” the project: making any appropriate adjustments and preparing the product for the next academic term.

Enhance

GRL views each project as a long term evolution as opposed to a one shot event. We work with each of our authors to: assess the project, prioritize next steps, and establish a development and implementation plan.

Enhancements and their related scope vary from project to project. Although it is not mandatory, we always encourage obtaining student feedback to confirm what’s working well and what needs to be improved. For example, we’ll obtain feedback on topics such as usability, educational effectiveness, and perceived value. We also conduct internal reviews which focus on instructional design, student interaction, learner support and resources, and usability. Our goal is to help our authors make informed decisions on how to best enhance our publications to reach our collective goals.

Marketing

After completion of the Work’s initial development process, the publication is ready for market research or introduction to the open market. We start by using what we’ve learned through direct and indirect feedback through the initial research and development phase. We’ll identify and use the top two or three “features” that differentiate us to create marketing material. Marketing material may include print and/or an online ad piece plus a demonstration version available through GRL’s content delivery system. GRL has staff available to assign inside sales duties as appropriate. Their responsibilities would be to proactively contact new authors and follow-up with prospective adopters.

The following serves as a general description of GRL’s preliminary marketing and sales strategy. It is important to note that the actual marketing and sales strategies will likely vary over the life of the Work depending upon many factors including, but not necessarily limited to, the results of market analysis, content assessment, and actual sales experience with the work over time.

Market Opportunity Analysis (MOA)

The MOA is a survey-based study designed to identify general market trends and gather specific demographic information of the targeted market. Through the MOA, we collect data on the preferences and practices of participants, including but not limited to:

Demonstrated and predictive behavior
Market environment trends
Competitive and comparative data on targeted products
Feedback on product concept and execution

Development Content Assessment

Developmental content assessment is a review of your product in the prototype or draft phase, and is used to inform decisions about future iterations of development. Pre-qualified reviewers are invited to examine portions of or an entire product and are asked to provide quantitative and qualitative feedback. Questions are constructed to determine how reviewers react to the concept and product benefits. This information helps you determine what changes should be made to increase the likelihood that a reviewer would recommend your work to another professor.

The review takes place entirely online with the ability to attach digital files or link to websites for review materials. Physical books can be sent directly to the reviewer as well.

Marketing and Sales

After completion of the work’s initial development process, the publication is ready for introduction to the open market. We start by using what we’ve learned through direct and indirect feedback through the initial research and development phase. We’ll identify and use the top two or three “features” that differentiate us to create marketing material. Marketing material may include print and/or an online ad piece plus a demonstration version available through GRL’s content delivery system.

We would, most likely, send the ad piece(s) to participants from the initial research and development phase to names purchased through MDR and those provided by the authoring team. GRL has staff available to assign inside sales duties as appropriate. Their responsibilities would be to proactively contact new and follow-up with prospective adopters.

How We Work

How We Work

How do we determine if GRL is a good fit?

Author Candidate Interview

Publishing Agreement

Project Planning Meeting

Brainstorming

Conceptualization / Pedagogy & Instructional Design

Editorial Schedule

Develop

GRL Team-members involved during development

Project Development Coordinators

Web Designers

Permissions Editors

Web Project Editors

Copy Editor

Programmers & Developers

Launch

GRL Team Members involved in the Launch

Project Editors

Technical Support

Enhance

GRL Team Members involved in the Launch

Author Relations Coordinators

Marketing

Market Opportunity Analysis (MOA)

Development Content Assessment

Marketing and Sales

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