Open textbooks

OER come in all shapes and sizes: as small as a single video or simulation [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] , or as large as an entire degree programme. It can be quite difficult, or at least time-consuming, for teachers to assemble OER into a collection comprehensive enough to replace a copyrighted textbook. For this reason, OER are often collected and presented in ways that resemble a traditional textbook in order to make them easier for instructors to understand and adopt.

The term ‘open textbook’ simply means a collection of OER that have been organised to look like a traditional textbook in order to ease the adoption process. To see examples of open textbooks in a number of disciplines, visit OpenStax, the Open Textbook Library or theBC Open Textbook Project. OER can also be aggregated and presented as digital courseware, such as MIT OpenCourseWare.