Investigating the Perceptions, Use, and Impact of Open Textbooks: A survey of Post-Secondary Students in British Columbia

Open Praxis vol. 9 issue 4

“…This study found that the cost of textbooks does not seem to affect choice of course at all; this result is contrary to the Senack (2014) and the Jhangiani & Jhangiani (2017) studies. Possible reasons for this may include the existence of the course-related costs that are part of student loans in New Zealand, or that for many courses at the University of Otago, minimal information is provided before enrolment.…”

“…Evidence from outside our context indicates that the cost of textbooks is having a negative effect on student behaviours (e.g., Martin, Belikov, Hilton, Wiley & Fischer, 2017;Jhangiani & Jhangiani, 2017;Senack & Donoghue, 2016). The problem is serious enough that it is not only influencing students' choice of courses but also their academic achievement (Hilton, 2016;Martin et al, 2017;Senack, 2014).…”

“…The problem is serious enough that it is not only influencing students' choice of courses but also their academic achievement (Hilton, 2016;Martin et al, 2017;Senack, 2014). Researchers argue that one alternative to the traditional textbook is the open textbook; one benefit being that they are free and readily accessible (Hilton, 2016;Jhangiani & Jhangiani, 2017;Martin, et al, 2017). (Erroneous) assumptions often underpinning such claims include: that all students are connected; that open textbooks are free; and that open textbooks are digital only.…”

Eight Patterns of Open Textbook Adoption in British Columbia

“…Columbia not purchasing at least one of their required textbooks due to cost (Jhangiani & Jhangiani, 2017;Hendricks, Reinsberg, & Rieger, 2017). Moreover, a significant minority of BC students are enrolling in fewer courses, not registering for specific courses, and even withdrawing from courses, once again citing high textbook costs (Jhangiani & Jhangiani, 2017).…”

“…Moreover, a significant minority of BC students are enrolling in fewer courses, not registering for specific courses, and even withdrawing from courses, once again citing high textbook costs (Jhangiani & Jhangiani, 2017). This, together with a desire on the part of faculty for greater pedagogical flexibility has led to a rapid growth in the creation, adaptation, and adoption of open textbooks, a type of open educational resource (OER) that is free for users to reuse, revise, remix, retain, and redistribute (Wiley, Bliss, & McEwen, 2014).…”