Open Educational Resources (OER) are educational materials that are free for anyone to use. We most often are referring to textbooks, but they can also be videos, tests, software, or even full courses. Crucially, they are not copyrighted like most publications but instead are released under a license (most often Creative Commons) that allows others […]
Textbooks
New Journal Article on Sinclair Librarians and Affordable Learning
Back in 2017 I shared a conference presentation that I did on OER (Open Educational Resources, specifically textbooks). Since then, that work has continued and I’m excited to share a new publication today. It’s a peer-reviewed article in the journal Reference Services Review. They put out a call for submissions for a special issue focused […]
What Are Apple’s Textbook and Educational Publishing Goals for the iPad?
For many, print textbooks are a vital and unchanging part of education. Writers and editors craft the books under the direction of a publisher. Teachers (or states) pick from the top titles on the market to be used in their classrooms. College students buy from their university bookstore, lug large volumes around in backpacks, and […]
Kindle eTextbook Rentals and the Future of Textbook Publishing
Amazon’s recent unveiling of a Kindle Textbook Rental Service, which allows students to rent electronic versions of “tens of thousands of textbooks,” is the latest news in the radically changing textbook publishing market. Amazon boasts savings up to 80% of the print cover price, offers very flexible rental periods, and enables students to access their […]