Instructors who are concerned about the impact of high textbook costs on students’ academic success are encouraged to attend the WVU Libraries’ Open Textbook Workshop and Textbook Review March 10 at 10 a.m. This workshop will help instructors explore possible open textbook solutions to this growing financial issue.
The registration deadline is today (March 1). Capacity is limited and open textbooks are not available for all subjects. Preference is based on textbook subject availability.
Over the past few years, 60 percent of students surveyed said they delayed purchasing textbooks until they received their financial aid and 70 percent chose not to purchase a required textbook because of cost, according to the Open Education Network. a group that studies how the high cost of course materials impede students’ academic success.
Open textbooks can help alleviate the burden of textbook costs for students and provide faculty with content that can be customized for their course. Open textbooks are complete and authoritative, adopted by many faculty across the country and licensed to be freely used, edited, and distributed.
Open Education Resources have provided access to learning materials and eliminated roadblocks for students during the pandemic.
“Please remember that students may be experiencing greater financial stress than usual if they’re not able to work due to the coronavirus,” said Libraries Open Educational Resources Committee Chair Martha Yancey.. “You might want to consider investing your time in trying resources and tools that will continue to be free to you and your students after the crisis is over.”
The one-hour virtual session will help instructors learn more about open textbooks available in their field and how to incorporate them into their curriculum. WVU Librarians Hilary Fredette, Jing Qiu and Yancey will lead the workshop.
After the workshop, there will be an opportunity to write a short review of an open textbook, which will benefit other faculty considering adopting open textbooks. A $200 stipend will be awarded for participation and a written review.
If you have questions about this workshop or open textbooks, please contact Yancey at 304-293-5039 or Martha.Yancey@mail.wvu.edu. You can also visit the open textbook webpage.