The document discusses the high cost of textbooks in the US and developing alternatives through open educational resources and the Global Text Project. The Global Text Project aims to provide free, high-quality textbooks online and in multiple languages to students in developing economies who cannot afford traditional textbooks. It is developing an open library of textbooks through the contributions of an international community of academics and students.

1. Open Content and the Global Text Project Don McCubbrey [email_address]

2. The Cost of Textbooks is a Problem It’s a huge issue in the US Prices increasing at twice the rate of inflation Publishers come out with unnecessary new editions to cripple the used book market Often cannot buy unbundled versions International editions typically cost 50% of the US edition Distributors can’t import international editions

3. Dealing With the Cost of Textbooks Action Groups OER Commons MIT Open Courseware Rice University – Connexions Academic Earth Alternative Business Models Online editions of traditional texts Textbook rental sites Low cost or free texts eReaders Textbook Transparency Laws

4. BUT… A $150 textbook in the US will cost $75 in sub-Saharan Africa. Even international editions are out of reach of students in developing economies. The lack of current, high-quality textbooks is a barrier for students in developing economies to lift themselves and their countries out of poverty.

5. "Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world“ Nelson Mandela

6. Global Text An Overview

7. Global Text Core Team Person Affiliation Roles Richard Watson University of Georgia Co-leader Editor-in-Chief Information Systems Don McCubbrey University of Denver Co-leader Editor-in-Chief Business Fundamentals Wayne Huang Ohio University Chinese library Andres Sepulveda University of Concepción Spanish library Kevin Desouza University of Washington Chief Community Organizer (CCO) Franz Lehner University of Passau Chief Technical Officer (CTO)

8. THE GLOBAL TEXT PROJECT : http://globaltext.org Content is developed by the collective intelligence of a dispersed community Content is reviewed by qualified experts Books are copy-edited, loaded to an online repository, and are available for free Books may be read online, downloaded to laptops, printed, or read on e-media Users are encouraged to modify books to suit local circumstances Books are initially available in Arabic, Chinese, English, and Spanish

9. Openness dimensions Access Open Proprietary Editing Everyone Few Reviewing Informal Formal Timeliness Dynamic Static

10. PROJECT STATUS Community includes academics, students, and practitioners – over 50 universities worldwide Pilot tests completed in Ethiopia and Indonesia Over 50 books available now Goal is to have 1000 books covering every subject in the first two years of university Support from Corporations and Foundations

11. STUDENT INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES Acquisition Production Promotion Marketing Books Disciplines Countries , Regions Translation Student Quality Circles

12. GLOBAL TEXT “ Engaging Many for the Benefit of Many More”