Recently on the Texas Linux Fest, Ross Reedstrom launched me to OpenStax. I’ve heard of a whole lot of open academic sources (OER) however not this specific one. It’s definitely a mission I’ll observe now.
OpenStax was based by Rice University engineering professor Richard Baraniuk in 1999 beneath the identify Connexions. It began like most open supply tasks: To scratch an itch and tackle an issue. In this case, Rice University needed to do one thing on the net associated to training. A grad scholar instructed that they take the mannequin used to develop Linux and apply it to create textbooks, and Connexions was born. They selected a license that allowed for reuse with attribution—in essence, this was the primary use of the Creative Commons license even earlier than the license existed.
Over the years, the mission did have thousands and thousands of tourists, however it wasn’t inflicting the disruption its builders needed to see within the textbook trade. They discovered that its instruments weren’t simple to make use of for a lot of web site guests. Although the crew had lengthy acknowledged that Connexions was not a writer, customers nonetheless needed books they might print. In 2012, the mission rebranded, with new targets:
- improve entry to high-quality open academic content material
- present college students with monetary aid
- improve educational freedom and adaptability for school members
- enhance completion charges and cut back time to commencement by decreasing monetary boundaries offered by high-cost supplies
And with that, OpenStax was born.
While the brand new branding did appeal to some new consideration, many remained skeptical that OpenStax may meet its targets. In February 2012, Mitch Smith wrote about OpenStax in “Inside Higher Ed,” quoting the manager director for increased training of the Association of American Publishers: “Faculty are tough—they’re under massive pressure, and they want the very best for the students. If Rice can meet the quality threshold that faculty demand, then they can participate in the market.”
This results in an essential query: Who buys textbooks? Students! Why, then, do school members require college students to spend exorbitant quantities of cash on books that include the identical info as these revealed on OpenStax?
This idea led OpenStax to begin styling books similar to conventional printed textbooks. As an instance, Ross confirmed us a print copy of 1 e book that value simply $50 on OpenStax as an alternative of $200 for a standard copy. Students who do not need a print copy in any respect can obtain a free PDF.
Having revealed 31 books since 2012, is OpenStax having an influence? Are school shopping for in? I would say so. For the primary time in 50 years, the worth of textbooks has dropped. OpenStax books are getting used around the globe, and the crew’s neighborhood outreach members are serving to unfold the phrase.
Other innovators are additionally following go well with by introducing extra open academic sources. The CARE Framework brings these OER websites collectively “to articulate a set of shared values and a collective vision for the future of education and learning enabled by the widespread adoption and use of OER.”
We’re additionally beginning to see an influence on the legislative degree, with states calling for consideration of open textbooks and federal grants being supplied—and it began with an itch!
Where will we go from right here?
In addition to including new titles to the library, OpenStax plans to observe a realistic method to openness. They notice that individuals come to OpenStax for various causes: Some need the flexibility to customise content material, some wish to construct content material from scratch, some wish to pull content material into completely different instruments—and a few merely need free stuff. OpenStax will tackle all of those wants by specializing in entry first, adopted by participation and empowerment instruments.
To assist out, yow will discover the mission on GitHub.
