A presentation to faculty, librarians, and administrators about the Student PIRGs organizing work around open textbook adoption, and tip/tactics around working effectively with students. #oew

1. Ethan Senack
Higher Education Associate

2. New Student PIRGs Study
-2039 students
- 163 campuses
- 34 states

3. • 65% of students decided against
buying a textbook because it was
too expensive, 94% of these
students were concerned it would
impact their grades
• Almost half said textbook costs
impact how many/which classes
they took
New Student PIRGs Study

4. • 82% said they would do significantly
better in a course if the textbook
was free online and the print copy
was optional (i.e. open textbooks)
New Student PIRGs Study

5. New Student PIRGs Study

6. New Student PIRGs Study

10. • Students are ultimately the
beneficiaries of OER
• Students are effective messengers
• We need an army
Why Work With Students?

11. 1. Focus on affordability.
Generally speaking, students are interested in OER
for one thing, and one thing only – cheaper
textbooks. The key to attracting and motivating
students is to present OER as a solution.
Tips: Working With Students

12. 2. Explain why OER is a solution.
Students want lower costs next semester, not next
decade. They tend to fight hardest for immediate
solutions: renting, used books, reserve copies, etc.
To gain student support, it is important to provide
context for why OER is a solution worth fighting for.
Tips: Working With Students

13. 3. Don’t overcomplicate things.
Most students don’t understand open licensing –
and that’s OK. Students can appreciate and
advocate for OER as a solution without knowing the
ins and outs of the different licenses, etc – all they
need is a practical understanding (stay tuned).
Tips: Working With Students

14. 4. Start with “Open textbooks”
“OER” and “educational resources” are foreign
terms to students. It’s best to focus on the most
familiar form of OER, “open textbooks.”
Tips: Working With Students

15. What are open textbooks?
1. Comparable: like any other text – similar
material and format, sold in the bookstore
2. Affordable: low-cost in print and digital form
– read free online, download printable PDF
and/or buy a hard copy for $20-40.
3. Flexible: professors can legally create their
own version of the textbook by removing
unwanted sections and adding new material.
Explaining OER to Students

16. Why support open textbooks?
1. Savings: professors who adopt open
textbooks save students 80% on average,
that’s $5,000 for the typical 100-student class.
Explaining OER to Students

17. Savings vs. New Books
Source: www.studentpirgs.org/textbooks/research
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
Used books
E-books
Rentals
Open Textbooks

18. Why support open textbooks?
1. Savings: professors who adopt open
textbooks save students 80% on average,
that’s $5,000 for the typical 100-student class
2. Options: students can choose whichever print
or digital format they want, all at low costs
Explaining OER to Students

19. 66%
Keep Some
34%
Rent All
75%
Prefer
print
25%
Prefer
digital
Student Preferences
Source: www.studentpirgs.org/textbooks/research

20. Why support open textbooks?
1. Savings: professors who adopt open
textbooks save students 80% on average,
that’s $5,000 for the typical 100-student class
2. Options: students can choose whichever print
or digital format they want, all at low costs
3. Change: major publishers have a stranglehold
on the market, and the best way to change
that is to increase competition with OER
Explaining OER to Students

21. Why take action now?
1. Self Interest: if your professor chooses an
open textbook, you could save hundreds next
semester!
2. Define the Enemy: this is the best way to
fight back against publisher rip-offs
3. Stress Urgency: faculty are choosing books
for next term right now, and students are the
best hope to tell them about OER
Explaining OER to Students

22. Student Groups
• Student government
• Political, consumer or social justice groups, like
PIRG, Campus Progress, Young Dems, etc.
• Academic clubs and societies
• Fraternities and sororities
• Environmental or cultural groups
Outreach to Students

23. Individual students
• Ask professors to recommend students, or
offer extra credit for participating
• Create opportunities for students to self-
identify: sign up form, posters, flyers, info
sessions
• Distribute materials to help students take
action on their own
Outreach to Students