Open Textbooks

March 7, 2016

Overview• What’s the problem?• What are open textbooks?• Why should we integrate them at USask?• 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 / year

for 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• Time

o To findo To reviewo To update other course materialso 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 materialso Assistance with productiono Funding for release time

• Technical assistance• Concerns about need for print – print-on-demand• Recognition?

Integration• Find a resource – open.usask.ca• Review an open textbook• Talk with the GMCTE* 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?

Support• GMCTE• Distance Education Unit• Library• Bookstore

open.usask.ca

Questions and Comments

Now What?• What’s your need?• Let’s have a look – open.usask.ca