how to manage the adaptation of open textbooks
DESCRIPTION
Presentation at Open Ed 2014 on the project management process of adapting open textbooks. Highlights include challenges and successes of the B.C. Open Textbook Project.TRANSCRIPT
How to Manage the
Adaptation of Open Textbooks
Lauri Aesoph ([email protected])
Amanda Coolidge ([email protected])
• OpenEd 2014, Washington DC
• November 20, 2014
Unless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC-BY. Feel free to
use, modify or distribute any or all of this presentation with attribution.
How to manage the adaptation of open textbooks
Agenda
1. What is the B.C. Open Textbook Project?
2. How to manage an adaptation
3. B.C. Open Textbook Authoring Guide
4. Challenges
5. Successes
What is the B.C. Open Textbook Project?
In the beginning…
On October 16, 2012 at the annual OpenEd conference in Vancouver, the Minister of
Advanced Education announced this project with support from BCcampus.
Goals:
1. Make higher education more accessible by reducing student cost through the use
of openly licensed textbooks.
2. Create a collection of open textbooks aligned with the top 40 highest-enrolled
subject areas in British Columbia.
Current Status:
We have created, adapted or found textbooks for 38 of the identified subject areas.
Last two subjects will be covered with new textbooks in early 2015.
What is the B.C. Open Textbook Project?
The project grows
In the spring of 2014, we were asked to add 20 textbooks targeting trades and skills
training.
We have started work on textbooks and resources with completion dates in 2015.
1. Core trades training
2. Culinary
3. Adult fundamental literacy
4. Graphic design
5. Health care
6. Tourism
What is the B.C. Open Textbook Project?
Not just textbooks
Outreach and engagement
1. Open textbook Summits
2. BCOER Librarians group
3. OER Sprints
4. Presentations
5. Accessibility (CAPER-BC)
Faculty Fellows Program
Technology development
Documentation and procedures
How to manage an adaptation
Getting started
1. Identify books from other collections = harvest
2. Import the book into platform (PressBooks)
3. Confirm that all resources are open
4. Evaluate the book- open peer reviews
5. Put out call for adapters
What is an adaptation?
• Revisions and improvements based on reviews
• Additional materials suggested by reviewers (such as ancillary resources)
• Localization
How to manage an adaptation
Pre-writing stage
1. Contract with author
2. Contact copy editors
3. Assign OTB support (audit layout, style)
4. Set up accounts in PressBooks (author, support team, copy editors)
5. Training in PressBooks
6. Author meeting (workflow and procedures)
Innovation
Scope creep
How to manage an adaptation
Writing stage
1. Refer authors to the Authoring Guide
2. Authors write
3. Deliver chapter(s)/unit(s) to project manager based on pre-agreed dates
4. Project manager passes content on to the copy editor
5. Project manager and author make fixes based on copy editor’s comments
6. Author continues writing and improvements
7. Book goes to copy editor for final proof reading
Copy editors
1. Education and training
2. Nature of this project influenced the copy editors’ role
3. Define and reinforce parameters
- grammar, clarity, and consistency (style sheet)
- new and revised material
- text body
- in-text citations match reference list
- figures and tables in sequential order
4. Don’t edit
- original material
- subject matter
- image captions, references, attributions
5. Proof read ONCE
Day 11 Oct 15 by sj sanders licensed under CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0
How to manage the adaptation
Final Stages
1. Project managers - book information
2. Major vs. minor adaptation
3. About the Book
4. Acknowledgements
5. About the Authors
B.C. Open Textbook Authoring Guide
B.C. Open Textbook Authoring Guide
http://opentextbc.ca/opentextbook/
B.C. Open Textbook Authoring Guide
B.C. Open Textbook Authoring Guide
B.C. Open Textbook Authoring Guide
A living book ...
always in progress
Clean dishes
Hängeschränke (Originale am ursprünglichen Platz) einerFrankfurter Küche. By Gerbil under CC-BY-SA 3.0
Dishes in the sink
Unwashed dishes in a sink by User:mysid in the public domain
Comments
Challenges
Challenge #1 - Preparing
Two truths
We knew there would be issues.
We didn’t know what they’d be.
Problems are Opportunities by Bright Vibes licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Challenge #2 – Gathering textbooks
Assumption:
All open textbooks contain only openly licensed
material.
Reality:
Some books included restricted materials.
Cadeado Lock by Carolos Luz licensed under CC-BY 2.0
Challenge #3 – Authors
Assumption:
Faculty who submit a proposal know about open,
writing and technology.
Reality:
Not always. Rarely all three.
The Big Maze by Victoria Pickering licensed under CC-BY –NC-ND2.0
Challenge #4 – Consistency
Assumption:
Adapting an existing textbook is
easier than writing a new one.
Reality:
It was difficult to keep style, layout and language
consistent between the original and adaptation.
Even Chairs can Repeat Themselves by Tony Hammond licensed under CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0
Challenge #5 – Timelines
Assumption:
If we create a project timeline, everything will be
completed on time.
Reality:
Expect the unexpected ... and plan for delays.
Deadline by Jonathan Bliss licensed under CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0
Challenge #6 – Breaking old habits
Assumption:
Working on an open textbook is no different than
working on a print textbook.
Reality:
There are many differences…and we’re still
learning.
Amazing stories of openness by David Porter licensed under CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0
Successes
Successes
91 adoptions by 46 instructors at
15 BC public post-secondary institutions
impacting 2750 students and saving
them over $432,000
Successes
Successes
And we are having fun learning so much!
Fun Fun Fun by Asma Al-Sughayer, Alaa licensed under CC-BY-NC 2.0
