By Ashley Mussbacher (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: February 26, 2014
With prices of hard-copy textbooks on the rise, students will do what they can to find a bargain. Online sources like Amazon, Books2Go, and Craigslist are usually the top websites for finding textbooks at lower prices, but what would happen if teachers started assigning free online textbooks?
The B.C. campus open textbook project (OTP) archives online textbooks for free use for students taking specific courses, generally at introductory level. The project is inspired by open source learning ideals coined by David Preston in a TEDtalk about exploring and creating learning concepts and source materials to improve the learning experience.
The B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education recorded how much money students at different universities have saved as a result of using the OTP:
“Individual instructors at Capilano University, Douglas College, the Justice Institute of B.C., Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Langara College, and Northwest Community College used open textbooks in the fall 2013 semester, bringing collective savings of over $43,000 to students.”
Individual students reportedly saved averages of $100 at the Justice Institute of B.C. and $187 at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
Cameron Foss, a Psychology student at Capilano University, is quoted on the OTP website explaining how the use of open textbooks has saved him money, and how he wishes more schools would get involved in the OTP.
“Having many years of school left, it would be nice that more teachers and schools could use these kinds of books to help take off some of the financial strain that students like me face,” he says. “Being a mature student on a tight budget, not having to pay $120 for a textbook is a big deal.”
A list of open textbooks is available to view on the UFV website, but there are no courses currently using it.
“UFV supports the concept to provide flexible and affordable access to higher education resources in B.C.,” UFV’s vice-provost Peter Geller explains, adding that there are many considerations taken into account before a department chooses to use the open texts. Cost to students does come into it, but so do student reactions, need, and a critical review by other experts in the field. He also notes that texts are assigned by instructors working in conjunction with their departments.
“So, in short, other learning resources would have been deemed more appropriate choices than the options offered through the B.C. Campus open texts initiative at this time,” he said.
