OER
Sustainable access to
Education Resources
James B. Wilson
Vice Chair Provost OER Committee, Colorado State University
Outline
The Problem
The Research
A Plan
The Problem
- None of the textbook are good!
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My students aren't reading the book!
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They're just quoting StackExchange!
At the Pub...
- Textbooks are so expensive!
- My prof's not using the book!
- This YouTube Video made more sense!
Go Rams!
At the Cafe...
Attitudes on textbooks...do they matter?
- Assign an old edition? (Costs the same, solutions everywhere)
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Use the PDF and online stuff? (Unreliable, low quality)
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Negotiate with publisher? (No resale value, no market pressure)
Prof Options...
- Share a book? (Will I get enough access?)
- Skip the book & Google instead? (Google what?)
- More student loans?
What goes in syllabus? In the bookstore? ADA compliance? Reliable links. Copyrights.
Student Options...
Others wonder...
All Options have as many downsides
- No bandwidth to change lectures and assessments.
- Can't library provide copies?
- Everything costs something, why is this on me?
Prof ??
Student ??
- Do I have to print the PDF?
- Where do I find the book?
- This PDF has hokey graphics and is full of typos.
- The online homework is so different from the lectures.
Keep my standards,
but reach max number of students?
My max problem...
Be a good student,
finish with minimal cost.
If Math cannot solve a max-min problem no hope for the rest?
My min problem...
The Research
Guess inflation Rates as % 1990-2019
- Cost of Health Care
- Cost of gas
- Cost of recreational books.
- Cost of text books.
Answers
- Cost of Health Care (512%)
- Cost of gas (235%)
- Cost of recreational books. (0.04%)
- Cost of text books. (810%)
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
Publishers create artificially small markets
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Reduce supply old editions to keep relative costs up
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Move old editions to rental only
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Offer university specific editions which limit used textbook value
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Increase dependence by bundling labs/assignments.
Why is this happening?
New models split/hide the costs.
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Rent the book (no resale, repeat, sharing prevented)
Student Monitor (2020). Renting textbooks now exceeds purchasing.See here.
- Pay for homework system.
- Pay for lab book
Why is this happening?
The textbook problem is worse than you think.
We keep change books like fashion changes clothes!
"[College textbook market] has a relatively high number of replacements...1 of 13 [books] ... where non-comparable replacements.
In fact BLS now models college textbooks with the same methods it uses for apparel.
BLS summary
Harder Truths
We assign (lots of) non-essential resources:
"The research ...revealed a continuum of centrality of learning resources, depending on the importance of the resource to the successful completion of the course." Horsley and Huntly (2010)
It's all about the Accessories
You are a big part of the textbook problem.
Student use whatever has the homework!
"The resources at the top of the priority list related specifically to successful completion of assessment tasks." "... textbook of tomorrow project which redefines such ‘texts’ as any digital resource actually used by teachers and learners... " Horsley et. al. "The role of textbooks... DOI:https://doi.org/10.21344/iartem.v3i2.787
There will always be a textbook
Summary
- Its worse than you knew.
- You're at fault too.
- Web X.0 wont make it go away.
A Plan
Faculty Matter
- One position in which we have control.
- Impact the vulnerable with low impact to others.
- Individual efforts are undermined, but were are a groups.
- Supports the mission of a Land Grant University.
"... to teach such branches of learning... in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions in life."
Morrill Act, 1862
- Permissive license (e.g. Creative Commons)
- Backed by research, shown to be sustainable and broadly accepted.
- Publisher with experience: OpenStax, Lyryx, ...
- Funded by large international foundations and governments.
- Open Textbook Library open.umn.edu
Open Education Resources
- Permissive license encourages mix-in & adaptation.
- Puts copyright in hands of authors (most textbook content is public domain)
- New books written by active scholars have relevant treatments
- OER shares the work and benefits in our region (pueblo, metro,
Boulder).
Why OER works
Making an Impact
We need to reach the most vulnerable in their first year large classes, high DFW rates
1
Large classes
Most 1st year courses have good OER texts, but need adapt syllabus, labs, quizzes, homework.
2
Adapt
Faculty, postdocs, grad-student TA's, need to stick with and update materials.
3
Train & Maintain
- Content creation for small enrollment courses takes a back-seat.
- Wait for good OER
- Use a publisher (quality, dependable, meets ADA and Accessibility requirements)
- Main-stream content (invites sustainable adoption)
- Work with others.
- Grants, Congressman Neguese, US policy, all ask for collaborative OER work
What this looks like
ERRORS
Provost OER Committee will be rolling out recommendations and is open to conversations.
Speak Up. Get involved.
James.Wilson@ColoState.Edu
OER Sustainable access to Education Resources James B. Wilson Vice Chair Provost OER Committee, Colorado State University
Open Education Resources
By James Wilson
Open Education Resources
Open Education Resources
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