Comments on: Faculty tackle problem of skyrocketing cost of textbooks with effective OER project

By: Julie Ann Davenport

Julie Ann Davenport — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 19:51:06 +0000

This is so wonderful. Many thanks to my colleagues in the math department who are working on the Calculus book…it’s long overdue and will make a huge impact for students. I also noticed that Portland State is doing something like this when in their library. Wouldn’t that be a great partnership?

By: Duncan Mead

Duncan Mead — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 20:26:07 +0000

This is so great. I have bought two textbooks for basic CIS courses, one in fall and one in winter term, that book buyback would not buy back at the end. Another way to save students money would be to 1) offer the used alternative if possible (at Rock Creek they just go get the books for you and you can’t see if a used one is available); 2) warn them if they are not going to be able to sell the book back at the end of the term (because it’s being replaced the following term); and 3) buy back more of the books. I am not sure why the Computer Concepts 2 book was rejected by book buyback and they can never tell us. If it’s in good shape and the class is still using it they should buy it back. I was unable to buy a used one for winter term and since it’s a book especially made for PCC I can’t really sell it on the open market. This is frustrating.

By: Dominica Mchau

Dominica Mchau — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 02:36:06 +0000

I agree, I am now taking one class because I can not afford to pay for the books. I think this is great idea to make possible availability for every one.

By: Tony Greiner

Tony Greiner — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 17:21:41 +0000

This is good work, and I congratulate all involved in the success the program has made so far. An exciting part about OER is that it also offers the opportunity to break the pattern of one textbook for the entire course. If materials are free or cheap, then instructors can pull together instruction sessions from a variety of sources, books, newspapers, websites, magazines, whatever is best suited for teaching that particular lesson.