The webinar discusses the impact of open textbooks in the USA and South Africa, focusing on two main platforms, Siyavula and OpenStax College. It highlights educator perspectives, methodologies, and benefits of open educational resources, such as improved student performance and increased financial savings. Future steps include further data analysis and dissemination of findings to maximize the impact of open textbooks in education.

1. The Impact of Open
Textbooks in the USA &
South Africa: When? Why?
How? (Webinar: 05/28/14)
Dr. Beck Pitt
The Open University
Megan Beckett
Siyavula
Daniel Williamson
OpenStax College

2. • OER Research Hub project and Impact Map
• Siyavula and OpenStax College Open Textbooks
• Methodology: Educator Sample Groups
• OER Behaviours
• OpenStax College: Impact
• Siyavula: Impact
• Educator Perspectives
• Summary/Next Steps
Overview
http://oerresearchhub.org
#oerrhub @OER_Hub

3. Background

4. • 2-year research project based at The Open University (UK)
• Funded by William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
• Aiming to build the most comprehensive picture of OER impact
• Eleven research hypotheses
• Collaboration model across different educational sectors
• Global reach but with a USA focus
• Fellowship Scheme
• Practicing openness: CC-BY licensed research instruments / SOO Course /
Impact Map
OER Research Hub
oerresearchhub.org
#oerrhub @OER_Hub

5. 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

6. Collaboration Model
Collaboration Model

7. Collaboration Model
Collaboration Model

9. OER Impact Map

10. OER Impact Map
http://chaos.open.ac.uk

11. OER Impact Map
http://chaos.open.ac.uk

12. Open Textbook Overview

13. Siyavula OverviewAll textbooks in
Afrikaans and English
The Thunderbolt kids
Natural Sciences &
Technology.
6 million textbooks
distributed across ZA.
Everything Maths &
Science
Math and Science.
1 million books
distributed across ZA.
Curious: Discover the
Possibilities
Natural Sciences.
Hardcopy textbook
distribution pending.

14. OpenStax College Overview
http://openstaxcollege.org/faculty
First textbook published June
2012
15 “ecosystem” partners
4.2 million unique visitors
Over half a million downloads of
OSC textbooks
$10.8 million in student savings
Nearly 700 institutions have
adopted OSC textbooks
Over 110K students have used
OSC textbooks

15. Methodology

16. Overview
OpenStax College
Siyavula
OER improve student
performance/satisfaction
People use OER differently from
other online materials
OER use leads educators to
reflect on their practice
OER adoption brings financial
benefits for students/institutions

17. Educator Surveys: Sample

18. 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)
• Other respondents live in Canada, Singapore, Malaysia & Australia (11.8%, n=9)
• 90.7% of respondents have English as their first spoken language (n=68)
• Over 90% of respondents have a Masters degree and/or PhD (39.5%, n=30 and
52.6%, n=40 respectively)
• 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)

19. Educator Sample: Siyavula
• 89 Respondents in total (have used/use Siyavula textbooks)
• 50.6% Male (n=44) and 49.4% Female (n=43)
• Over 95% of respondents live in the South Africa (97.5%, n=79)
• Top three Responses (Province): 38.0% of respondents live in Gauteng (n=30), 27.8%
in the Western Cape (n=22), 10.1% in the Eastern Cape (n=8), 10.1% in KwaZulu-
Natal (n=8), Around two thirds of respondents have English as their first spoken
language (66.7%, n=58)
• 18.2% of respondents have a Masters degree and/or PhD (12.5%, n=11 & 5.7%, n=5
respectively)
• Nearly 60% of respondents work F/T or P/T in a Private School (58.1%, n=50).
• 36.0% of respondents work F/T or P/T in a Public School (n=31)
• 80.5% of respondents do F/T face-to-face teaching (n=70)
• 65.1% of respondents have been teaching for more than 10 years (n=56)

20. OER Behaviours

21. The use and creation of Open Educational
Resources: Siyavula & OpenStax College
Statement /Question Siyavula Respondents OpenStax Respondents
“I have adapted open educational resources to fit my
needs”
55.1% (n=38) 90.9% (n=70)
“I have created OER for study or teaching” 29.0% (n=20) 48.1% (n=37)
“I have created resources myself and published them
on an open license”
13.0% (n=9) 14.3% (n=11)
Top three types of OER used for teaching/training Videos (83.3%, n=60)
Open Textbooks (81.9%, n=59),
Images (73.6%, n=53)
Open Textbooks (98.7%,
n=76)
Videos (79.2%, n=61)
Images (72.7%, n=56)
Biggest challenge for respondents when using OER “Not having enough time to look
for suitable resources” (70.1%,
n=47)
“Finding resources of
sufficiently high quality”
(65.3%, n=49)

22. OpenStax College Textbooks: Impact

23. “In what ways, if any, has using OpenStax College textbooks
impacted on your own teaching practice?”

24. “In what ways, if any, has using OpenStax College
textbooks impacted on your students?”
“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.”

25. “In what ways, if any, has using OpenStax College
textbooks impacted on your students?”
“more student engagement
in lab activities and lecture
presentation”
“Students seem
somewhat more
engaged.”

26. Siyavula Textbooks: Impact

27. “In what ways, if any, has using Siyavula textbooks impacted
on your own teaching practice?”
“Good exercises, sound scientific
principles, collaborative effort by
educated, qualified professionals.”

28. “In what ways, if any, has using Siyavula
textbooks impacted on your students?”
“Second language students found
it very accessible. In the absence
of a teacher, or for self teacher for
any reason, it is a very learner-
centric and friendly text.”
“Students have the freedom
to copy the book legally and
pass on sections of the book.
They also have the free to
share the book online or read
them online as they need to.
It made it convenient from a
reference point of view.”

29. Educator Perspectives: Siyavula &
OpenStax College

30. “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/Siyavula textbooks)
in the classroom...”
Top three responses (Siyavula):
Allows me to better accommodate diverse learners’ needs (85.2%, n=52)
Develops learners’ increased independence and self-reliance (84.6%, n=55)
Builds learners’ confidence (81.0%, n=51)
Top three responses (OpenStax College):
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)

31. “As a result of using Siyavula/OpenStax College 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)
90.8% of educators who use Siyavula textbooks are more likely to recommend Siyavula textbooks
to fellow educators/teachers (n=59)
92.3% of educators who use Siyavula textbooks are more likely to recommend Siyavula textbooks
to students as an additional/optional study aid (n=60)
88.0% of educators who use OpenStax College textbooks are more likely to recommend OSC
textbooks to students as an additional/optional study aid (n=66)
Nearly 80% of respondents who use OSC textbooks are more likely to use OER for teaching
(79.5%, n=58)
90.2% of respondents who use Siyavula textbooks are more likely to use other free educational
resources for teaching (n=55)

32. Summary and Next Steps

33. Summary/Next Steps
Next Steps
Further analysis of Siyavula and OpenStax College data, e.g. comparison of
adopters/users with non-users, public school respondents with private school
respondents
Further comparisons between open textbook surveys
Case studies, comparative impact data and instructor interviews
Open dissemination of data and findings via Impact Map
Add your evidence to the Impact Map!
Further Comments and Summary
Thanks for listening! …Any questions?

34. Thanks for listening!
http://oerresearchhub.org
http://oermap.org
http://openstaxcollege.org
http://www.siyavula.com
Twitter: @BeckPitt, @new_edu,
@MeganBeckett2

35. in service of The Open University