"A colleague from the University Michigan who attended the OCWC Conference in Vietnam heard results from an OER survey developed by University of Nottingham and released March 2010. Questions get into the perception of OER resources and potential for participation in OER in a particular higher ed institution.
Governor Schwarzenegger Announces Results of Free Digital Textbook Initiative Phase Two
Announces 17 New Standards-Aligned Free Digital Textbooks Available for California’s Classrooms
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the results of the second phase of his first-in-the-nation free Digital Textbook Initiative to provide California’s students and teachers with free, high-quality open educational resources. Seventeen free digital textbooks for high school history, science and higher-level math were reviewed against California’s rigorous academic content standards and are now available for use in California’s classrooms.
“I launched the nation’s first digital textbook initiative to provide California’s students and teachers with free, high-quality open educational resources,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “We now have more than 30 free digital texts available for use in the classroom that can provide a more interactive experience for students and cost districts less – a win-win that can allow educators to engage a new generation of tech-savvy students.”
Under the Governor’s first-in-the-nation free Digital Textbook Initiative, digital resources – submitted by textbook publishers, classroom teachers and other experts – are reviewed against California’s rigorous academic content standards by the California Learning Resources Network (CLRN) to give teachers confidence that these materials are appropriate to be used in California’s classrooms. More than 30 free digital textbooks have now been reviewed, including textbooks for the following high school courses: geometry, algebra II, trigonometry, probability and statistics, calculus, physics, chemistry, biology and life science, earth science and U.S. history.
Students and teachers have the flexibility to use these resources in a number of ways. They are downloadable and can be projected on a screen or viewed on a computer or hand-held device. They can also be printed chapter by chapter and bound for use in the classroom and be taken home by students.
“Californians are once again proving that they are the most innovative people in the world, and our thanks go out to the experts, publishers and standards specialists that helped to provide such high-quality digital content to our students,” said California Secretary of Education Bonnie Reiss.
Governor Schwarzenegger launched the first phase of this groundbreaking initiative in May 2009 to help ensure California’s students have access to high-quality, cost-effective instructional materials. In August 2009, the Governor released CLRN’s review report of 16 digital math and science textbooks. Several textbook publishers that had submitted content in the first phase improved their textbooks based on the reviews and resubmitted their textbooks for the second phase. In fall 2009, the Governor signed a package of bills to help increase the quantity, availability and practicality of using digital textbooks in the classroom.
To download or view the available free digital textbooks and for more information on the CLRN content standards review process, please visit www.clrn.org/fdti.
Why: Textbook prices cost the average student $900 per year, and prices have risen four times the rate of inflation in the last two decades.Students, faculty and colleges all share frustration with the skyrocketing cost of textbooks, but what can be done?
What: This webinar will explore open-access textbooks, an increasingly popular solution that can help reduce costs dramatically. Open textbooks are textbooks offered free online, affordable in print, and licensed to be more flexible for students and faculty.Although open texts aren't yet available for every course, they are rapidly gaining momentum in the marketplace. Join this presentation to hear more about open textbooks, where to find them, and how you can help get them into students' hands.
Join us to learn:
•What open textbooks are and how much they can save.
•Why textbook costs are out of control.
•How open textbooks are created and maintained.
•Where to find open textbooks for your course.
•One professor's perspective on using an open textbook.
Speakers:
•Nicole Allen, Director of the Student PIRGs' Make Textbooks Affordable campaign
•Jacky Hood, Project Director for College Open Textbooks
•Andrea Abergel, CALPIRG Textbook Campaign Coordinator & student at UC-Davis
•Dr. Vic Reiner, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Minnesota
•Eric Frank, President and Co-Founder of Flat World Knowledge
Host:
•Dr. Cable Green, Director of eLearning & Open Education
oWashington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
This session will be recorded and made available under a CC BY license.
