Why are Instructional Design and the Library Departments promoting Open Education Resources and Open Textbooks?
Because they work!
Universities and colleges that have implemented ebooks that are open access resources have seen the following results:
- student withdrawal rates are lower/student retention is higher
- students report having a positive experience with OERs
- students view OER textbooks as being of high quality
- students express gratitude about the free cost
- OER is a tool of educational equity
- students performed academically as well or better in terms of learning outcomes with OER or Open Textbooks
Modifying an Open Textbook: What You Need to Know by Publication Date: 2016This ebook focuses on the technological aspects of editing open textbooks found in the Open Textbook Library or elsewhere, and will help you assess the effort, expertise, and technical tools needed. In addition, this guide includes step-by-step instructions for importing and editing common open textbook file and platform types. Finally, this guide provides a basic overview of accessibility considerations and general guidance on where to find additional help.
Evidence of Open Access Success