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Tag Archives: open textbook

Screen shot of radiographic anatomy module. The radiographic image shows equine leg bones and joints, with two bones highlighted in red.

Open-source module helps alleviate financial burden on VetMed students

July 24, 2018

Sarah Nemanic, an associate professor of diagnostic imaging in the College of Veterinary Medicine, recently led the creation of a self-study computer module for students, veterinarians and faculty to learn, review and be tested on normal veterinary radiographic anatomy. Not only is it a must-have resource for all VetMed students, but it’s also a free one. Nemanic worked with Open Oregon State to develop an open-source module that is freely accessible to learners all over the world.

Microbiology instructor solves a costly problem for students, increases access to learning

June 25, 2018

Linda Bruslind estimated that less than half of the students in her General Microbiology course were buying and using the required publisher’s textbook. To put it another way, the majority of her MB 302 students did not have access to vital learning resource in large part because it was cost prohibitive. (A new copy of the latest publisher’s edition runs nearly $250.) She decided to fix the problem.

Oregon State physics instructor K.C. Walsh writes on a lightboard (a transparent whiteboard that allows the instructor to face their students as they write or draw).

The future of education is wide open

May 4, 2018

K.C. Walsh, a senior instructor of physics at Oregon State University, long ago realized how burdensome the financial situation is for students. In sports terms, the textbook publishing companies are winning, and it’s a blowout. Financially, the students continually come up short. That’s why Walsh decided to change the game by embracing the open educational resource (OER) movement and giving his students access to no-cost and low-cost course materials.

Dianna Fisher, Open Oregon State director, poses with arms crossed in front of her. She wears a vibrant blue button-up shirt with light blue butterflies on it.

Getting to know Dianna Fisher

August 15, 2016

When Oregon State Extended Campus developed a unit focused on online educational resources (OER) in 2013, it turned to Dianna Fisher. Dianna already had more than a decade of experience working with university faculty, mostly as the director of online course development and training for OSU Ecampus. She was appointed director of Open Oregon State in early 2014 and has played a vital role in making college more affordable for students and giving educators broader access to the tools they need.

A visualization of digital learning shows electronic circuits linked to an open book.

OSU wins grant to adapt free biology textbook, cut $100K in student costs

July 8, 2016

Oregon State University is increasing its efforts to make college more affordable, particularly through the use of free, open access textbooks and other essential course materials. The latest example came when the university was awarded a $30,000 grant by the State of Oregon to adapt a biology textbook that will be freely accessible to OSU students and learners worldwide. It is one of 16 open textbooks in use or in production at Oregon State. Read more about the grant and the work being done by Open Oregon State.