I just finished an awesome three days of being surrounded by like-minded professionals. It was so refreshing and I learned so much about the possibilities for technology and open education. Actually, this blog is thanks to my new friends from the extend institute.
My Perspective
As you may or may not know I have been publishing YouTube videos since 2010. I started making the videos for many reasons, but one of them was a desire to make learning accessible for students beyond the ones in my classroom. As an educator I want to help students learn their way. The more people I can help with the work I do the better. What is the point in keeping the work I do secret? (That is an entirely different issue I hope to reflect on soon)
Where Have I been?
I attend conferences and do my own professional development continuously – yet this is the first time I have been aware of open textbooks. Back in the day (well, 2013) I remember looking into MOOCs at a conference. How did I miss the idea of open textbooks? Ok, granted, I have been on parental leave for 2 of the last 3 years.
Why Open Textbooks?
Open textbooks make learning more accessible to everyone. How many students do you know that cannot afford to buy all their textbooks? Think of how it would improve their learning if all their books were FREE?!?
If you are looking for some open textbooks try eCampusOntario. They have a FAQ section that addresses questions about the quality of the books etc.
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