Over the decades I’ve assigned a lot of different types of books from nearly $200 textbooks that cover multiple classes to the reasonably priced Bedford series in History and Culture. Until 2006 I really had not put any thought into the price of books I assigned because when I was a student, in the 1990s, I never put any thought into the price of books I had to purchase. I just bought them. In fact, I would routinely purchase books assigned to other classes, even in other disciplines from biology to law. Anything that sounded interesting.
Over the years, I even assigned my own books. I’ve been fortunate that I’ve been able to get some work published by academic presses.
In 2006 I began teaching at a minority-majority campus and I started to pay attention. I learned about food deserts and housing issues from first hand accounts, starting with homeless students. Then I found out that the food, housing, health care and employment issues facing my students here in the Eastend of Houston are also being shared by students in West Houston.
The more I studied, read, and spoke with others in the field, the more I realized these seemingly local issues were actually national issues, generational issues. That the current college students face issues that I did not have to face. One of those issues being the skyrocketing price of textbooks and ancillaries.
Like I said, I was already published in academic presses. Nice for my curriculum vitae but that did not directly help students. How does spending years researching and writing a book on a focused, narrow subject going to benefit my students who need money to eat, sleep and provide for their health care? Then I wondered about the ethics of assigning your own books and the royalty system. That wasn't for me.
In 2006, I decided to cull my vast collection of openly available primary source documents, selected 5 documents per chapter of the textbook I was using and place it on the History Department’s webpage: publicly available to anyone in the world. And, my first OER was born -a reader covering the entire US history survey. It’s still there. Still being used.
About that time I attended a conference at Rice University on a new vehicle called Project Connexions. Project Connexions was a space where academics could publish OER. I began writing and editing condensed chapters immediately. More akin to an ancillary than a textbook. Combination of my lectures and other OER. Nothing too exciting.
Then my son was born, so things were placed on the back burner for a while. By the time I was ready to draft the 2nd edition of my ancillary, I had the idea of incorporating student-generated content into the chapters. In a coordinated, guided effort, I worked closely with my students to do so.
But the real Gordon Knot was the textbook industry, and so in 2017 I decided to turn the ancillary into a full-fledged textbook with images, hyperlinks and sources. I was turned on to PressBooks. Quite user friendly. Two years later, with the help of many students, we completed the first half of the new textbook: A Road Less Traveled: An Ancillary to Our Story. The “ancillary” in the title is not in reference to the type of book, but rather that the book is an addendum, an addition, an auxiliary to “Our Story,” US History.
https://ourstory.pressbooks.com/
So now I use OER exclusively because doing so directly benefits students. Again, getting another book published by a university press helps my cv, but putting out another OER helps students. They've told me so. Every class. “Our Story“ is about us for us by us. There’s no cost. No one gets remunerated. This is a labor of devotion, commitment and service.
In addition, I see my position as one of service to provide and enhance equity and access by facilitating a more affordable education opportunity. OER provides equity, access and affordability more so than another publication in an academic press.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Coming from a family who also has struggled with money, where our next meal would come from, and where we would spend the night, feels like a never ending nightmare. Also considering that I am a first generation high school graduate and college student it really is appreciated when people, like yourself, take time to give us a chance in this world by making our education so accessible. Thankfully my family has been able to grow out of our situation and now are more financially stable. However, we do have our moments and I think it’s absurd when professors make their students pay $200 for a whole access code that comes with a book you probably won’t use at all during the class. Your class is one of the few who don’t require anything and I greatly appreciate that the OER is free and convenient for whenever it is needed.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your time and thoughtful, helpful comments. I always appreciate feedback.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first did the Gatekeeper quiz for your history class, I noticed how everything was hand written and crafted by hand from a professor who works for a community college. This showed me how much you care for your students, especially when doing the essays. There is no need to worry about looking up a topic on the web and spend half the day finding out if the source is appropriate and legit to use for an essay because you have it on Canvas to easily access it. It is such a relief to not buy an expensive book and only use it for a few short weeks. Normally it would have been a burden to come up with money like that when its usually given to bills and necessities at home. I am not fond of a professor asking students to buy an expensive book only to use it once throughout the whole semester or frankly, not even use it. I do appreciate the effort and dedication you give us during the semester.
ReplyDeleteI think what you and many other professors are doing is great. In a fast streaming world, online textbooks make it easier for students to access their required study material for their classes. In your case, you gathered students to make a textbook full of information that they deemed worthy of noting for a class lecture. Not only did you allow the students to somewhat form their own curriculum, but you also allowed them to pick topics that they were drawn to. I don’t know if this was intentional or not, but by allowing them to choose the information added into the textbook, you ensured that the readers that followed would also find the material interesting as well. Additionally, your textbook is subject to change, which makes it a flexible reading material that will make the class easier for your present and future students.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first took your class last year for HIST 1301 I did not understand the aspect of an online textbook that was free. Of course, I heard about reselling and pirating. Even that I did not know where to look and how to get access to that. I also knew I was illegal so that was not an option. I was prepared to pay quite a hefty sum of money for my textbook for your class, because of some friends and family that went to college and said that the price for books was high. When you said the online textbook was free and did not need to spend any money, it was probably the greatest relief ever. Especially during that time where it was a constant struggle to get financial aid. And though I did not know how to navigate through the OER textbook at first, I kept at it and it became one of the greatest textbooks I have never purchased.
ReplyDeleteEven though things has changed in certain ways, it is true that I am agree and felt the same about the price of books in today´s days. When I first got into college I seen the expensive it is to handle the money you can get from scholarships and the rest, but it worth it of course, but still disappoint with how a textbook can cost more than $200, and in some cases only because of a code that it´s included or because of the material it has to offer (in the way it was made of), although, in the times we are, I think textbooks have to be replaced by online books, as you mentioned by doing recycled books created by professors and students, learning and going together at the same goal, which is avoiding expensive textbooks that you will use once for those that can be created online, where anyone can get access to it without too much difficulty. I really appreciate the way you have realized the situations many students have to face, because that has helped them to face and grow up with tools provided easy and in purpose to learn.
ReplyDeleteI am very thankful that not only were you were able to see some of the struggles that students go through but that you were able to help make our lives easier. Some of us do have many issues at home but it is nice to know that there are professors looking out for us as well. The OER Textbook helped me greatly for your class, not only was it user friendly but also free. All of the information needed for your assignments were always found in the OER and it was easy to access your assignments on canvas. I really did enjoy taking your class this semester despite having it moved to 100% online due to the covid-19. Thank You for helping continue our education. Stay safe!
ReplyDeleteIt’s admiring to see that someone who has not experienced the same struggles is able to take a look around and notice what some students face in their everyday lives. It is far more commendable that you chose to assist all students with your service with creating the OER. Not every student is able to depend on financial aid. That $200 that is saved from one less textbook (which most likely will not be used at all because all that is required is an access code) to purchase goes a long way for a family or an individual. We can tell you are very passionate about your work, and it is not overlooked. While food and housing come with a price, kindness is priceless.
ReplyDeleteI think the fact that your realization of these generational problems and the effort you took to provide equity for all your students was a very thoughtful and wise decision to say the very least. It is one thing to know and another to act and make a change, no matter how largely it benefits a person’s education every act of empathy helps. No one should have to further their education at the cost of everything that they have. Schools will continue to charge students for every tool the school offers whether the student uses those tools or not. Providing students with free and easily-accessible tools such as the OER that you have provided us, allows as you have said, “equity” with the opportunity of furthering our education without putting low-income students under more financial pressure. Having your students input knowledge into the OER also enables students and provides them with a chance to perform at their best.
ReplyDeleteas a student myself, i find this very helpful. And i am very thankful that you, as a professor, is reaching out to help students. It is true many books are very expensive and we mostly try to look to get the same book but cheaper. The OER books helped me in class to understand the topic we were going through, but it also helped me when i was searching for further information on a topic. I love how detailed and so informative it is. it is so helpful that the book is free. it is easy access, informative, and you don't have to waste a penny. It makes me so happy that struggling students came to your attention, and did everything you could to help out not your students but everyone around the world.
ReplyDeleteI think it is fantastic that you are doing everything in your power to help students have accessible resources for class. As a student myself, I have found that OER textbooks help me significantly more than hardcover ones do. It is just not about the price, although that does play a role in my personal preference. The information found in OER textbooks is also more detailed in less talked about subjects in history class such as racial minorities and women. I used to prefer hard cover books because I believed it was easier to learn hands-on. Well, that is not entirely true and college books are extremely expensive. I am not able to buy many books, and OER books take so much weight of my arms. I am glad to be part of a class that has a professor that cares enough about his students to make resources both reliable and accessible.
ReplyDeleteI really the idea of using OER textbooks because you provided the whole information that we really need to learn our History Material. Buying Textbooks are really a waste of money because they're too overpriced and the total range cost are $149 to $200 dollars per each textbook for different classes.But after students finished their courses their is no point of using those overpriced Textbooks.I believed that every instructor should create their own Textbooks from their subject material and provide the textbooks for their students. When I started reading the OER Textbooks, I was able to understand the course materials of History. I am really grateful for the OER Textbook that you've provided for everyone because most students can't afford overpriced textbooks that cost like $200 dollars. For your class I was able to save some money for this semester. Thank You Very Much for your generosity and kindness.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of an OER textbook until I arrived to this class. I feel like many professors overlook the fact that their students are facing everyday struggles and are sometimes unable to purchase the textbooks assigned for class. I am finishing up my second year of college and up until now I did not realize how stressful I felt every time I calculated the cost of all the textbooks I was going purchase for the semester. For some students, it was not that big of a deal, but I always found myself worried and figuring out where I was going to get the money to pay for them. I am extremely grateful that you were able to go out of your way and give many of us the opportunity of a resource made by students and for students.
ReplyDeleteComing from an immigrant family and being an immigrant myself, I don’t qualify for FAFSA but I do qualify for TASFA, so I receive only a fraction of what other classmates receive in student aid. If I were to take 4 or 5 or even 6 classes that all require textbooks, I would barely be able to pay off my classes plus maybe 2 or 3 of those required textbooks with the student aid I am granted. Coming from a single parent household, with a mother who doesn't have a decent paying job due to her immigrant status, I would have to work extra to pay for the textbooks (working to help with any expenses at home and for school). Thankfully, that is not the case and I don’t have any out of pocket expenses required for my classes- for now. Once I do transfer to another college, that won’t be the case, and I’m 100% certain those professors won’t have an OER, they’ll assign $200-$500 textbooks and I’m not looking forward to that whatsoever. So thank you Dr. Ross-Nazzal, I hope other professors start implementing OER’s into their curriculum as well.
ReplyDeleteFrom a student who is on their second semester of college when you told us our textbook was free, I was surprised. On my previous semester all my courses had assigned us book of over a value of $80 and above and this semester also I few classes assigned me very expensive books. It was very stress reliving to know that you had created a book for the course which will be at no cost to us. And was made specifically by you and previous students who took this course. Since I am a student who comes from a family low income family and had no money to pay for university. It took weight off my shoulder knowing I didn’t have to waste hundred of dollars on a book I would rarely read. In result I will be able to use that money to pay bills and other expenses instead. The OER book not only helped with cost I feel like it was very good book because compared to the other books it was very digestible and didn’t contain 30 pages of filler like other textbooks. The book contains the most important information which kept me focused and interested in subject, it had cited sources and was cost effective. Due to my experience with the book I will now be able to ask other professors to considered writing their own books to benefit student learning and financial situation.
ReplyDeleteIt is surprising that not even you had in consideration the book prices at first but with the time you realize that you could make a great difference by making your own rules, this helped students like me and dozens more. I believe that in the future, more educators would do their own OER book so they may help other students too. college isn't easy or cheap, this type of help encourages students to do their best because they notice that their teachers care about their education. I wonder if in the future I’m going to make a difference just like you and help others with my work.
ReplyDeleteTextbooks can be expensive when it comes to college. As a full time student it gets difficult trying to pay your classes and books at the same time, and we are not talking about $30 dollar books but $100 dollars up to $200 dollars or more just for a textbook. The OER book was a total success. It helped me a lot during my semester with you as my professor. I liked the way that it was very easy to understand, it had a lot of details, and the best part was that it was with no cost. Reading the OER helped me had an idea on what you expected on my assignments. It is not just available for your classmates to read but to other students as well and I am happy that you put your shoes in others that can’t even afford to access a book. This is why I fully agree with your OER book and I am thankful for letting me access something that was really useful.
ReplyDelete