Open Access Week 2014: Open Textbook Research Overview
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Transcript of Open Access Week 2014: Open Textbook Research Overview
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