introduction to open textbooks - bccampus
TRANSCRIPT
Introduction to Open Textbooks
Heather M. Ross
March 7, 2016
CC-BY
Overview• What’s the problem?
• What are open textbooks?
• Why should we integrate them?
• What’s already happening at USask?
• What are the barriers?
• How do we integrate them?
• Now what?
Problem
The U of S recommended budgeting:
$1,000 - $2,000 / yearfor textbooks and course materials in 2014 – 2015
academic year
The Academic Impact• Purchase an older edition of the textbook
• Delay purchasing the textbook
• Never purchase the textbook
63.6% Not purchase the required textbook
49.2% Take fewer courses
45.1% Not register for a specific course
33.9% Earn a poor grade
26.7% Drop a course
17.0% Fail a course
In your academic career, has the cost of required textbooks caused you to:
http://www.openaccesstextbooks.org/pdf/2012_Florida_Student_Textbook_Survey.pdf
What are Open Textbooks?
• Digital
• Free
• Instructor Written
• Peer Reviewed
• Adaptable*
Creative Commons
Where Does Funding Come From?
• Universities
• Foundations
• Governments
• Professional Organizations
Why Should We Integrate • Cost savings for students
• Access for learners
• Customization (revise & remix)
• Efficiency
• Community
• Reputation
First Adoption We Knew About
• Winter 2015
• Principles of Economics (OpenStax)
• Agriculture and Bioresource
• 270 students
• Out of the box
Known Adoptions at USask
• College of Agriculture and Bioresource
• Edwards School of Business
• Department of Chemistry
• Department of History*
• Department of Sociology
• 2015 - 2016 academic year – 900+ students = $90,000+
savings
Edwards School of Business
• Adoption for Fall 2015
• 360 students
• Adapting Study Skills (Open Textbook Library)
Barriers• Knowing about open textbooks
• Timeo To find
o To review
o To update other course materials
o To revise / remix book if needed
• Technical assistance
• Concerns about need for print
• Recognition
Barriers – Some Solutions• Knowing – sessions like this one and word of mouth
• Timeo Assistance finding materials
o Assistance with production
o Funding for release time
• Technical assistance
• Concerns about need for print – print-on-demand
• Recognition?
Integration• Find a resource – open.bccampus.ca (or open.usask.ca)
• Review an open textbook
• Talk with OER Librarians and educational developers
about open resources and pedagogy
• Talk with colleagues about collaboration
• Think about:o Can I use this resource as is?
o What would I need to / get to change about my course?
o How much change can I do to start?
o Who could I work with on this?
Questions and Comments
Some slides were adapted from a presentation by David Ernst of The Open Textbook Library
under a CC-BY license.
Heather M. RossUniversity of Saskatchewan
Twitter - @mctoonish