Open Access Week 2014

Open Textbook Research: Overview

Dr. Beck Pitt The Open University

• Background: OER Research Hub project

• Open Textbook Overview: USA and OpenStax College

• Methodology

• Educator Survey (Sample)

• OpenStax College Textbooks: Impact

• Educator Perspectives

• Summary and Next Steps

Overview

http://oerresearchhub.org #oerrhub @OER_Hub

Background

• 2-year research open research project based in the Institute of Educational Technology (IET)

• Funded by William & Flora Hewlett Foundation

• Aiming to build the most comprehensive picture of OER impact

• Eleven research hypotheses

• Open collaboration model across different educational sectors

• Global reach but with a USA focus

• Open and Linked Fellowship Schemes

OER Research Hub

oerresearchhub.org #oerrhub @OER_Hub

Keyword Hypothesis

Performance OER improve student performance/satisfaction

Openness People use OER differently from other online materials

Access OER widen participation in education

Retention OER can help at-risk learners to finish their studies

Reflection OER use leads educators to reflect on their practice

Finance OER adoption brings financial benefits for students/institutions

Indicators Informal learners use a variety of indicators when selecting OER

Support Informal learners develop their own forms of study support

Transition OER support informal learners in moving to formal study

Policy OER use encourages institutions to change their policies

Assessment Informal assessments motivate learners using OER

Open Textbook Overview: USA and OpenStax College

Open Textbook Overview

• On average total textbook costs are around $1200 each year in the United States

• In the United States “…Textbook wholesale prices have risen more than four times the rate of inflation over the last two decades (1990-2009)”

(Student PIRGs research)

• “…the textbooks actually cost more than

the tuition for most students.” (Barbara Illowsky, author of Collaborative Statistics)

• 63% of respondents to the 2012 Florida Student Textbook Survey “…reported not having purchased the required textbook because of the high cost…”

Picture credit: Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/04/college-textbook-prices-increase_n_2409153.html)

OpenStax College Overview

http://openstaxcollege.org/faculty

Saved students over $30 million since June 2012

From 40 adoptions in 2012 to 1061 by 2014

1 million downloads of OpenStax materials

Image and information from OpenStax College’s 2014 Progress Report: http://openstaxcollege.org/news/our-textbooks-have-saved-students-30-million CC-BY

First textbook published June 2012

9 open textbooks published to date

iBooks available in 32 countries

Methodology

Overview: OpenStax College

People use OER differently from other online materials

OER improve student performance/satisfaction

OER adoption brings financial benefits for

students/institutions

Educator Survey: Sample

Educator Sample: OpenStax College

• 77 Respondents in total (have used/use OSC textbooks) • 73.7% Male (n=56) and 26.3% Female (n=20) • Over 85% of respondents live in the United States (88.2%, n=67)• Over 55% of respondents work in a HE/University context (57.1%, n=44) • 76.6% of respondents do F/T face-to-face teaching (n=59) • Nearly 70% of respondents have been teaching for more than 10 years (67.1%, n=51)

90.9% of respondents told us they have adapted open educational resources to fit their needs (n=70)

Finding resources of a sufficiently high quality was the top challenge most often faced by educators when using OER (65.3%, n=49)

OpenStax College Textbooks: Impact

“In what ways, if any, has using OpenStax College textbooks impacted on your own teaching practice?”

“I have become more intentional about tailoring my course to my students, having been at least

somewhat released from the constraints imposed by the commercial publishing industry”

“I have always believed in using a lot of

additional resources. OpenStax works nicely in this regard. The

supplementals are not fancy but we have made additional testbanks and

other free resources available to all our faculty in a collective approach to

compile very nice additional resources.”

“I am able to think a little more creatively of what new

experiences I can design for my students using

resources in the text or other online resources. I think

the text is a great foundation, but I don’t feel

constrained to shy away from employing other

teaching tools for fear they might ask: “Well, if you

were going to have us watch this video or do this

online tutorial – why did we have to pay $250 for the

textbook?”

“I create more collections of images to build presentation,

rather than going straight from the book.”

Based on your experiences as a teacher, to what extent do you agree with the following statements?

% of educators who strongly agree or agree with the following statements:

"Use of Open Educational Resources (e.g. OpenStax College textbooks) in the classroom...”

Allows me to better accommodate diverse learners’ needs (67.1%, n=49)Increases learners’ satisfaction with the learning experience (66.2%, n=49)Increases learners’ experimentation with new ways of learning (64.4%, n=47)Increases learners’ engagement with lesson content (61.6%, n=45)Develops learners’ increased independence and self-reliance (58.1%, n=43)Increases learners’ interest in the subjects taught (54.1%, n=40)Leads to improved students’ grades (50.7%, n=37) Increases learners’ participation in class discussions (47.3%, n=35) Increases learners’ enthusiasm for future study (47.3%, n=35)Builds learners’ confidence (45.8%, n=33) Increases collaboration and/or peer-support among learners (45.8%, n=33)Leads to learners becoming interested in a wider range of subjects than before they used OER (42.5%, n=31)

“In what ways, if any, has using OpenStax College textbooks impacted on your students?”

“They are able to access the textbook and start doing homework immediately rather than being

delayed until weeks after the start of the course due to lack of finances.”

“Ease of use for students and

parents. The 'note-taking" type of

students can print pages, and when

I find students have a specific

difficulty I can even print a page to

use in class. Faster students can

read on devices at any time - they

enjoy viewing the book from

smartphones etc.”

“They have the book as a resource

after leaving class. With another

text they would most likely sell it

back. Also sharing content with

others outside of class.”

“Increased reading of the

textbook, and a portable

textbook that can go with them

for review. Unlike other e-

textbooks, this one can stay

with them.”

“…the students are sharing notes and

annotations online.”

“The resource gave them a sound understanding of the topic and they were able to do self-directed study from it. The result is that seniors have excelled in their exams.”

“In what ways, if any, has using OpenStax College textbooks impacted on your students?”

“more student engagement in lab activities and lecture presentation”

“Free and available online (while they

work, or are at home) make OpenStax

texts a great excuse-defying tool. In a

positive light- students have access to the

text wherever and whenever they

need/want it.”

“…Students love having multiple options

for textbook format (epub, iBook, pdf, or

hardcopy). Enrollment in my class has

increased by 25% - can't say for sure it

is due to the textbook, but it certainly has

helped. …”

“It saves all 800 students per

year about $120. One student

told me that she had to work 15

hours for each book that she

has to buy. That really put it in

perspective.”

“Students seem somewhat more engaged.”

“I think that it is highly beneficial to have a

brand new text to use, I would have been

forced through budgetary constraints to

purchase other texts which are 5-10 years old..”

In what ways, if any, has using OpenStax College textbooks impacted on your studies?

“Made learning easier and more accessible, helped and broadened my understanding and

learning, made me WANT to study, helped me become interested in Biology because of the

easy layout and presentation.” (High School Student)

“Saved my back, I already have so many other books in my backpack and using my computer for more info saved additional

stress that would have been on my back.” (College student)

“Increased my Ap Biology grade

dramatically.”

(Earlier this High School respondent

reported: “I went from being horrible

in AP Biology to actually reading

these and went from a D 66% up to

a A 90% So far.”)

“Open Stax textbooks offer me

peace of mind and permit me to

study in a more relaxed way. I am

grateful not to have to come up with

hundreds of dollars per class for

books.” (Student studying without a

teacher)

“It has allowed for me

to develop knowledge

easily in areas that I

thought would be

difficult to learn in due

to the inability to buy

an in-depth textbook.”

(High School Student)

Educator Perspectives

“As a result of using OpenStax College (OSC) textbooks, are you more or less likely to do any of the following?”

96.1% of educators who use OSC textbooks are more likely to recommend OpenStax College textbooks to fellow educators/teachers (n=73)

92% of respondents are more likely to make an OSC textbook the required text for their students (n=69)

80% of respondents are more likely to discuss using OSC materials with their institution’s administrators (n=60)

Nearly 80% of respondents who use OSC textbooks are more likely to use other OER for teaching (79.5%, n=58)

Summary and Next Steps

Summary/Next Steps

• Further analysis of OpenStax College and Siyavula data, e.g. comparison of adopters/users with non-users, public school respondents with private school respondents

• BCcampus Educators Survey (Fall/Winter 2014/5)• Further comparisons between open textbook surveys • Case study work and further survey work: Fall 2014 • Open dissemination of data and findings via Impact Map (Open Textbook Research Week (June

2014) and OpenStax College Infographics)• Add your evidence to the Impact Map!

Thanks for listening! …Any questions?

Thanks for listening!http://oerresearchhub.orghttp://oermap.org@BeckPitt

http://openstaxcollege.org

in service of The Open University