Richard BaraniukDavid Harris

ConnexionsRice University

College Access Project

Project Update25 January 2012

CAP Funders

• Hewlett Foundation– Vic Vuchic

• Gates Foundation– Josh Jarrett– Rahim Rajan

• 20 Million Minds Foundation– Dean Florez– Phil Kim

• Maxfield Foundation– Robert Maxfield

Connexions (cnx.org)

usage per month:>2 million unique users100 million hitsfrom 190 countries

non-profit open education platform founded at Rice in 1999

1200 open textbooks/collections20000 Lego modules

from contributors worldwide in 40+ languages

free online: 3 million uses to date

iPad/iPhone/Android via ePub

$26 in print(627 pages)

Community College Open Textbook Project200+ CC’s in USA and Canada

developing a suite of free open textbooks

Siyavula / Shuttleworth Foundationcomplete K-12 curriculum for South Africa

Government of Vietnamdeveloping new curriculum at 40 universities

IEEEquality review of open materials(IEEEcnx.org)

Some Connexions Partners

College Access Project (CAP)

• Connexions has been successful with “viral” OER model

• But in order to “cross the chasm” and attain large adoption soon, need a turn-key OER solution– Textbook– Ancillaries– Homework system, …

• CAP goal: Develop turn-key OER solution for 5 key (community) college courses

Physics, Sociology, Anatomy and Physiology, Biology for Majors, Biology for Nonmajors

Re-Branding

The First 5 Textbooks

OSC Executive Team

Connexions– Richard Baraniuk

Founder, Director, CAP PI– David Harris

Editor-in-Chief

Words and Numbers– Phyllis Hillwig

COO – Emily Barrosse

Program Director for CAP

Content Development Strategy

• Hybrid model– combine publisher's best practices with accelerated development

model and diverse talent network

• Community model– engage market to help refine the products as they are used

• Curation model– part of W&N ongoing maintenance strategy and process to refine

first-edition books

• Smart Art– simple effective use of color for A&P and Biology

• Balance– science content is about accuracy, humanities content is about

multiple perspectives

• Create and Seed– ensure best results

OSC Physics Update• Building on the strong foundation of Urone Physics

– over 10,000 units sales in last published edition

• Engaging a strong team of active authors and contributors– former Urone users, open content advocates

• Editor-in-Chief: Emily Barrosse– 26 years with big 5 publishers including

E-in-C at McGraw-Hill – Applying a publisher’s lens on quality and

engaging new users through seeding strategy

• To date, potential adopters and pilot leaders sending the right signals

• Completion: 28 February–12 March 2012

Physics Team Highlights

Lead Authors

•Roger Hinrichs, PhD– Emeritus Professor of

Physics SUNY College at Oswego

– 35+ years in teaching– Author of multiple books

•Peter Urone, PhD – Emeritus Professor of

Physics, Sacramento State

– 30+ years in teaching– Author of multiple books

Reviewers (active instructors)

Erik ChristensenProfessor of PhysicsSouth Florida Community CollegeMS, BS from MITConnected in the Community College space

Mark Sher, PhDProfessor of PhysicsWilliam and Mary CollegeNumerous grant awards, papersConnected with four year universities

Ulrich Zurcher, PhD Associate Professor Physics Cleveland State UniversityNumerous meetings and presentations

Doug Ingram, PhDInstructor, Physics and AstronomyTexas Christian UniversityTeacher of the Year nominee for multiple years

Donald R. Franceschetti, PhDDistinguished Professor of PhysicsUniversity of MemphisPhD From Princeton

Eric Kincanon, PhDProfessor of PhysicsGonzaga UniversityReviewer of over 60 physics-related books and articles

Physics Editorial Board

• Neal Lane– University Professor, Rice University– Former Rice Provost, Director of NSF, President Clinton’s

Science Advisor

• Sam Ting– Thomas Dudley Cabot Professor of Physics, MIT– Nobel Prize in Physics, 1976

• Lawrence Krauss– Foundation Professor, School of Earth and Space

Exploration, Director of Origins Project, ASU– author of several bestselling science books

Encouraging Feedback“I really like the liberal use of biomedical objects. Most of my students are planning careers

in that field and this really helps them see the relevance of taking physics!” - Erik Christensen, South Florida Community College, on Chapter 1

“The coverage of hearing and ultrasound is exceptional.” - Donald R. Franceschetti, University of Memphis, on Chapter 18

 “The scope and difficulty of the end-of-chapter questions is comparable to other

introductory texts and appropriate.” – Doug Ingram, Texas Christian University, on Chapter 10, 11, 12

“I thought the examples were good and did a very good job of not being too abstract. This is important with algebra-based students. Overall I like the order. I particularly liked how there was a discussion of reflection and refraction in general before going into detail.” - Eric Kincanon, Gonzaga University, on Chapter 26

“Concepts and skills are well-represented and material is laid out in well-organized fashion.” - Ulrich Zurcher, Cleveland State University, on Chapter 16

“I would definitely consider using this book, and not just because of the low cost. The material is exceptionally presented; there are numerous problems to select, another strength of this text.” - Lee Larue, Paris Junior College, on Chapter 15

OSC Sociology Update

• Strong blend of active instructors and professional writers

• Reviewing strategy includes engaging broad base of professors, including members of the Open Textbook Community on Sociology

• Good preliminary feedback on initial chapters

• Completion: 12-31 March 2012

Sociology Team Highlights

Featured Collaborators

•Judith Richlin-Klonsky– Professor, Santa Rosa Junior College– PhD Sociology, UCLA, 1991– MA Social Science, with specialization

in Family Therapy, Philips Graduate Institute, Burbank, CA

– Active instructor at UCLA and Santa Rosa Community College

– Lecturer for several University of California Campuses

•Carol Jenkins– Professor, Glenndale Community College– PhD Sociology, Kansas State University,

1986– 23 years as professor in Sociology at

several 4-year universities – multiple teaching and innovation awards

Sample Reviewers

Gerry Cox, PhD

Emeritus ProfessorDepartment of Sociology and ArcheologyUniversity of Wisconsin

David Hunt, PhD

Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Sociology Augusta State University

Jason Leiker, PhD

Senior LecturerDepartment of SociologyUtah State University

Matt Morrison, MS

InstructorDepartment of SociologyUniversity of Virginia

Gary TitchnerProfessorDepartment of Sociology Des Moines Community College

Encouraging Feedback

“This is one of the best chapters on research methods that I have read for an undergraduate lower level course. If the other chapters are similar, I would highly recommend it!”

- Gerry Cox, University of Wisconsin, on Ch. 2

“I think this chapter is highly readable and would be clear to any undergraduate just encountering sociology for the first time.”

- Matt Morrison, University of Virginia, on Ch. 3

“Great flow of material.”-Gary Titchener, Des Moines Community College, on Ch. 12

“The most likeable part of the chapter is that it is divided into small “chunks”, rather than one long continuous reading. According to research, the present generation will not read material that continues over several pages. They want the information broken into smaller parts.”

- Faye Jones, Mississippi GC Community College, Ch. 7

“The chapter was enjoyable, especially through the inclusion of real life examples and some global perspectives.”

- Athena Smith, Hillsborough Community College, on Ch. 8.

OSC Anatomy & Physiology Update

• Battle-tested publishing professionals revising workflow strategy to ensure rigor in developing and vetting this complex content

• New approach to A&P Art Program– black and white with judicious and

pedagogical use of color

• External linking with a purpose

• Enriched by CMU OLI

• Prototype Chapter Completion Timeline: 1 February 2012

• Full Book Completion Timeline: Oct 15-Nov 1 2012

A&P Team Highlights

Robin Heyden– 20+years in Higher Education publishing– Managed and developed first two editions of Neil Campbell's

Biology and first two editions of Elaine Marieb's Human Anatomy & Physiology

– Extremely well networked in A&P community, enabling her to bring us the best experts and reviewers and enabling us to begin seeding even earlier in the process

Karen Gulliver– 20+ years in Higher Education publishing – Contributor to numerous Biology and A&P projects – Leading art strategy and development for CAP A&P

Steph Sadler– Graduate of Johns Hopkins Medical Illustration program

A&P Editorial Board• Kenneth Shine

– Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, University of Texas System, President of the Institute of the Medicine, National Academy of Science

• François M. Abboud– Director, Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Iowa, AAAS Fellow, Institute of

Medicine Fellow, National Academy of Sciences, Associate Vice President for Research

• Thomas Boat– Executive Associate Dean for the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Institute

of Medicine Fellow, Chair of American Board of Pediatrics, President of Society for Pediatric Research

• Eileen Breslin– Dean of School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center, American

Academy of Nursing Fellow, National Advisory Council for Nursing Education and Practice

• John West– UCSD, President of American Physiological Society, foreign member of the Russian

Academy of Sciences, AAAS Fellow, Institute of Medicine Fellow, National Academy of Sciences.

• James Willerson– President and Medical Director of Texas Heart Institute (THI), President of The

University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Royal Society of Medicine Fellow, Institute of Medicine Fellow, National Academy of Science

OSC Biology Update

• Two books: Biology for Majors and Nonmajors

• 85% of chapters drafted

• Revising workflow strategy to ensure rigor

• Prototype chapter will illustrate new art treatment and strategy

• Prototype Chapter Completion: 1 March 2012

• Full Book Completion: 15 October 2012

Biology Team Highlights

Darlene Como– 30 years in health science publishing– Editor-in-Chief for Harcourt Health Sciences and Executive

Publisher for Elsevier– Leading the workflow revision strategy

Susan FeldKamp– 22+ years in educational science publishing, focused on

biology titles– Biology Instructor at Texas State University– Leading the content quality assurance team

Launch and Marketing

Marketing

Short term goals– Meet delivery dates– Launch pilot programs– Raise awareness

Longer term goals– Track outcomes:

Adoption, Total usage, Derivatives and Versions, Dollars saved

– Scale program to drive change among many markets– Establish sustaining ecosystem

New products and services Sustainability revenue

– Expand OSC library

OER 1.0 Market

Publisher Subscription

Services

Discipline Communities

Technology Service

Provider

OER Producer

Legislative/Community

Academic Community

Students/PIRG

OER Producer

Limitations of OER 1.0 Model

inconsistent quality standards

lack of turn-key solutions

lack of coordination around a common core

lack of blended solutions

faculty tend to adapt after they adopt, not vice-versa

no sustainable reward structure for content producers

lack of cooperation with “for profit” providers(ex: noncommercial licenses)

emerging OER 2.0 ecosystem

Publisher Subscription

Services

Discipline Communities

Technology Service

Provider

OER Producer

Legislative/Community

Academic Community

Students/PIRG

OER Producer

Learning OutcomeDevelopment Standards

OER Marketplace

Network of Partners

Partner Update

• Online homework system supporting OSC Physics

• Physics content integrated into their homework

• Dedicated sales force of 24

• Sharing CRMS contact database

• Revenue sharing (mission support fee) back to OSC/Connexions

Partner Update

• Orange Grove,University of Florida Press

• Consortium of University Presses • Coordinate on future open textbook development

• Develop OER content standards

• Presenting at the upcoming Connexions conference

Partner Update

• Print partners– Low-cost printing– Revenue sharing (mission support fee)– Handles e-commerce and fulfillment

• Consoidated Graphics– High-fidelity printing

• Lulu– On-demand, custom printing

OSC Launch Update• Launch: 2 February 2012• Launch event: 15 February 2012

at Connexions Conference

• OpenStaxCollege.org website unique functionality:– StaxDash– Savings

calculator

• Running ads in Physics,Sociology educationmagazines

First 2 Ads

• Marketing Campaign designed by Halo Group (NYC)– Ad campaign– Email and social media campaign

OSC/Connexions and TAA

• Marketing OSC/Connexions platform for OER materials generated by DoL TAA grantees

– OSC/Connexions offering content hosting, platform customization, project management, …

– Plan to present at 21/22 February meeting of grantees in DC

• Initial progress:

– Through Dean Florez (20MM), have made contact with and presented to West Hills led consortium (C6)

– Work progressing on a partnership announcement in the next few weeks

– Should give us good momentum for the DC meeting later in February

The Future

Expanding the OSC Library

• Solid progress on first 5 CAP books– First “turn key” OER course solution– Expect significant long-term impact– Expect impact not just in US but worldwide– Potential to disrupt publishing industry

• Planning for the next 20 CCAP books– Aim to reach as many students as possible– Help colleges address the large pain point of

developmental courses – Enable colleges to leverage their resources

in other ways

Discussion

• This investment in 5 open textbooks has potential to reach a market of 1.8M students

• Strategy for the next 20 books

– Reach the largest possible number of students to achieve the greatest impact (by investing in core course markets with the largest enrollments)?

– Invest in particular tracks based on enrollments, student demographics, etc.?

– Invest in remedial courses, a challenge for college administrators? (2.2M students take remedial math and 600K more take remedial English, creating a large resource drain)?

Top 20 College Courses (1/2)

Top 20 College Courses (1/2)

Connexions Conference

• February 14 Consortium Meeting – Funders and collaborators dinner

• February 15 Main Conference– OpenStaxCollege launch– OpenStaxCollege centered sessions

• February 16-17 Connexions Sprints– Update Collaborative Statistics for OpenStaxCollege– Grade 10 Life Science book from Siyavula (South Africa)– Coding sprint

conference.cnx.org

Sacramento Hearing Discussion Points

• Likely Publisher Claims + Our Responses:

• "OER is not needed; we already offer affordable choices”• "If there are so many affordable options, then why are

students still complaining about prices? Moreover, some e-options like CourseSmart are actually just as expensive as paper texts.”

• "OER is inferior and could harm student outcomes”• ”The HF is supporting the development of new OER using the

same peer-reviewed and professional editing processes the publishers follow.”

• "Mandating OER use is an affront to academic freedom”• "OER actually provides more choice by providing a viable

alternative to faculty and to students who can't afford $200 texts.”