Open textbooks are openly-licensed textbooks offered free online by authors. The open license sets them apart from traditional textbooks by allowing users to read online, download, and print. They are also editable so instructors can customize content, cross-platform compatible and work with adaptive technology. This session looks at the how to identify, evaluate, and adopt Open Textbooks, and training opportunities for those wanting to adopt open resources, do peer reviews or open their own writing.

1. ADOPTING OPEN TEXTBOOKS
Ken Ronkowitz
Passaic County Community College, NJ

2. Adopting Open Textbooks
Open textbooks are openly-licensed textbooks
offered free online by authors. The open license
sets them apart from traditional textbooks by
allowing users to read online, download, and print.
They are also editable so instructors can
customize content, cross-platform compatible and
work with adaptive technology.
This session looks at the how to identify, evaluate,
and adopt Open Textbooks, and training
opportunities for those wanting to adopt open
resources, do peer reviews or open their own
writing.

3. 3
Why leave traditional textbooks?
1. No textbook fits exactly and it’s all or nothing - though this
is changing…
2. Students complain
- about high prices - an average two-year college student
spends nearly 75% of what they spend on tuition on
textbooks
- if only a few chapters are used in the course
- when sent to different places for readings and materials
3. Textbooks are bundled with [too] many re$ources, labs
etc.
4. Print textbooks don’t have the advantages of eTextbooks
– but commercial eTextbooks are not open

5. 5
An open textbook is…
 Modifiable by the instructor
 Digital, Modular
 Adaptable
 Low cost to the students
 Usually free for those with
computers and internet access
 Printable for “free” or for a small
fee (print centers etc.)
 Sometimes available in bound
copies for $10-$40
Labeled for reuse Flickr MrKCools

6. 6
An open textbook has been…
Changed by the creators
from
Copyright
All Rights Reserved
to
Copyleft
Some Rights Reserved
under an open license
e.g., Creative Commons
License
From the Creative Commons store

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Some Open Textbook Myths
1. Creators never receive monetary
compensation for open textbooks.
2. Written by anonymous amateurs or crowd-
sourced.
3. Derivative versions damage the author’s
reputation.
4. Lower quality
5. Out-of-date (expired copyrights, public domain)
6. Publishers and bookstores are enemies of
open textbooks. (Okay, partially true…)
7. Open Textbooks and eBooks are the same
thing 

8. Open Textbooks versus e-
Textbooks
 E-texts (publisher
online textbooks):
1. Have restrictive
licenses (e.g. no
modifications)
2. Still costly
3. Accessible for a
limited time period
(semester)
4. Usually have
restrictions on the
amount of material
students can print
 Open Textbooks:
1. Can usually be
modified/customized
2. Can be viewed/read
for no cost online
3. Are permanently
available in a
repository or as a
download
4. Can be fully printed
for a low cost

9. 9
Some Benefits of Open
Textbooks
1. Higher efficiency in the use/reuse/remixing of modules
2. More adaptable to learning styles, cultures,
geographies, devices…
3. Use only content is needed: saves paper, toner, and
weight – may also avoid some confusion for students
4. More feedback from teachers and students to the
creators (authors, illustrators, publishers, editors...) for global
textbook improvement
5. Free for those with computers or readers and Internet
access & lower cost for printed and bound versions
6. Students can better afford more classes & other books
or materials
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10. Two Community College
Organizations
 Community College Consortium for Open
Educational Resources (CCCOER)
 97 colleges join to give 2-year schools a big
voice in open textbooks and more
 Community College Open Textbooks
Collaborative
 A group of 12 organizations (FHDA, FDLC,
CNX…) funded by the William and Flora Hewlett
Foundation to increase the demand and supply
of open textbooks
their websites 
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11. CCCOER oerconsortium.org
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12. CollegeOpenTextbooks.org
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13. The Process 3 Steps
creative commons licensed by larry&flo 2007

14. Starting Out
NOT here But HERE
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15. 1 Identifying Titles
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Full reviews are also available with comments and ratings for each chapter

16. Search Criteria
 Subject
 Student Learning Objectives
 Course titles, descriptions
 Level
 Format
 Material type (Quiz, reading, etc.)
 Author or expert

17. Develop Selection Criteria
 Your discipline may already have selection
criteria
 How do these criteria differ from those created
for printed textbooks?
 Use standardized criteria
Based on discipline requirements and best
practices
 Modify existing criteria
For modules, e-books, and other formats
 Use available reviews

18. Possible Selection Criteria
 Accuracy
 Appropriateness
 Accessibility
 Authority
 Content
 Cultural relevance
 Currency
 Easily customizable
 Flexible format
 Modularity
 Pedagogical style
 Peer reviewed
 Portability
 Reading level
 Usable interface
 Error-free

19. 2 Evaluate

20. Check Peer Reviews
 On http://collegeopentextbooks.org, there are
reviews linked to titles have been submitted by
educators and professionals in the field.
 "They are the opinions of the individual authors
and do not represent an endorsement of any
textbook by the Community College Open
Textbook Collaborative"
 The Outline of American Literature, newly revised, traces
the paths of American narrative, fiction, poetry and drama
as they move from pre-colonial times into the present,
through such literary movements as romanticism, realism
and experimentation. Online and as PDF

21. 21
Make Contact With
Stakeholders
 Curriculum Committee, Department, Dean or other
group that approves textbook adoptions
 IT - restrictions on requiring computer/internet access?
 Department colleagues, adjuncts, TAs
 College bookstore
 College library / Media center
 Print Shop
 Students (soft launch?)
 Others?
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22. Online
version
Download to
print or offer
as file
Buy hard
copy
Online View

23. Sample
Chapter
Navigate table of
contents
Key terms link
to definition

24. Digital Repositories
 A system to store and manage a variety of
digital resources where the content is:
 created once
 stored once
 used or repurposed multiple times
 Facilitates discovery of resources
 Users can link to OR download resources
 Users can add resources

25. Repositories

26. Evaluating Titles
 Plan the class
 Choose the parts of
the textbook that fit
 Add other open
resources or
additional textbooks
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Flickr wockerjabby

27. 3 Adoption and Use

28. 3 Adopt and Use
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 Choose the parts of the
textbook that fit your course,
rather than letting the
textbook drive curriculum
design and syllabus.
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29. 29
3 Adoption Paths
 Soft Launch
 Use for readings and
homework only
 Use only in classroom
 Use in the Learning
Management System
 Use for remediation (prior
level textbook)
 Use for lifelong learning,
dual enrollment, K-20
initiatives, grants…
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From Flickr ronk53

30. Learning & Training

31. Join In
 College Open Textbooks Community
http://collegeopentextbooks.ning.com
 OpenTextbook AdvocateTrainers Learning
Stream for College Campus OER Promoters
http://opentextbookadvocatetrainers.ning.com

32. Ken Ronkowitz is the Director of the
Writing Initiative at PCCC and an
Advocate/Trainer as part of the
Community College Consortium for Open
Educational Resources
oerconsortium.org
Open Textbook Adoption
Presentation available at http://www.slideshare.net/ronko4

33. For more information and updates
http://pccc.libguides.com/etextbook
s
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