In Search of Affordable Textbooks: How OER Can Reduce Costs

The average U.S. college student spends more than $1,000 per year on textbooks, which can rival the cost of tuition at some institutions. As textbook prices continue to soar more than quadruple the rate of inflation, the inefficient and anti-consumer practices of the traditional publishing industry only make matters worse. Open textbooks and other OER have tremendous potential as a solution to this problem. With today's rapidly changing student preferences, open textbooks could revolutionize the way textbooks are bought and sold - the full text is offered free online, low-cost hard copies can be sold in the bookstore, and a wide range of print and digital formats are available online. Open textbooks also give instructors more tools to shape students' learning environment, acting as an important gateway to more extensive use of OER. Drawing on the Student PIRGs' extensive research and experience in the field, the session will provide background on the issue, explain how open textbooks are a solution, and quantify the potential impact for students. The session will also include an update on grassroots efforts going on across the country plus a set of recommendations and resources that attendees can use to participate in the open textbook movement on campus.