Are you an instructor who is concerned about the impact of high textbook costs on your students? Explore possible open textbook solutions by attending a two-hour workshop and writing a short textbook review. Receive a $300 stipend for your efforts!

The University of Oklahoma Libraries is hosting an Open Textbook Workshop on Tuesday October 21st.  This workshop will be facilitated by Dave Ernst and Kristen Jensen from the University of Minnesota, where the Open Textbook Library was founded. The workshop will be a two-hour session where you can discover more about open textbooks in your field. After the workshop, you will be asked to write a short review of an open textbook. Your review will benefit other faculty considering open textbooks. You will receive a $300 stipend for your participation and written review.

Did you know…

• The high cost of some course materials can impede students’ academic success.
• The College Board estimates that the average student can expect to pay $1200 for textbooks and supplies in 2013-14.
• The cost of textbooks is rising at a rate of 4 times inflation.
• 7 out of 10 students do not purchase a required textbook during their academic career because of cost.
• 60% of students have delayed purchasing textbooks until they received their financial aid.

Open textbooks can help alleviate the burden of textbook costs for students and provide faculty with content that can be customized for their course. Open textbooks are full, real textbooks, used by many faculty across the country, and licensed to be freely used, edited, and distributed.

Interested in participating? First visit the Open Textbook Library and find a textbook in your discipline.  Use this link to register by Tuesday, October 14, 2014. Capacity is limited and open textbooks are not available for all subjects. Preference will be based on textbook subject area availability.

• Where: Bizzell LL118
• When: Tuesday, October 21, 2014
• Lunch: 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (provided)
• Workshop: 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

If you can not attend on the 21st, have an issue finding a textbook, or have any other questions or need special accommodations during the workshop, please contact Stacy Zemke.

This workshop is currently open to University of Oklahoma faculty, but if you are interested in knowing more about open textbooks, we will be hosting a general session on the same day.  Contact Stacy Zemke if you have any questions.