Open Educational Resources (OER) revolutionize higher education by democratizing learning materials for students and instructors alike. OER at UBC embody this vision and transform the way knowledge is shared, making it more dynamic, accessible, and easily adjustable across many disciplines.
One of the most significant barriers to knowledge acquisition in higher education is the high cost of learning. Traditional textbooks are often prohibitively expensive for many students, leading to financial strain and, in some cases, limiting access to essential course materials. Additionally, traditional textbooks can quickly become outdated, making it challenging for instructors to provide students with the most current information.
Impacts of OER on textbooks and curriculum development
These challenges underscore the importance of Open Educational Resources, particularly open textbooks, which provide a cost-effective, adaptable, and inclusive alternative to traditional hard cover textbooks.
Open textbooks eliminate or significantly reduce the financial burden on students. Unlike traditional textbooks, which can cost hundreds of dollars per course, they are freely accessible, ensuring that all students, regardless of their financial situation, have access to the necessary learning materials. This shift contributes to greater inclusivity in higher education by leveling the playing field and allowing more students to succeed without worrying about prohibitive costs.
“What sets my textbook apart is that it’s open-edit, meaning it’s free, and incorporates multimedia – something you don’t always get with traditional textbooks,” explains Dr. Jennifer Kong, adjunct professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. “Even online textbooks don’t offer the same flexibility that open education does.”
Additionally, reduced textbook costs allow students to allocate their financial resources to other essential needs such as housing, food, and technology, ultimately improving overall academic performance and student well-being.
Open textbooks provide faculty and instructors with the ability to modify and adapt content to better fit curriculum and the needs of their students. Unlike traditional textbooks, which are often rigid in their structure and content, open textbooks can be customized, expanded, and updated to align with course objectives, emerging trends, and diverse student needs.
“Beyond a traditional textbook, an electronic textbook means that we can update content and case studies in real-time,” explains Dr. Evelyn Sun, assistant professor of teaching in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. “This allows us to implement new cases based on emerging research and update information as it changes, as science does.”
This adaptability ensures that course materials remain relevant and up to date, allowing instructors to incorporate recent research, case studies, and course-specific perspectives that may be missing from traditional textbooks. Open textbooks also facilitate the integration of interdisciplinary content, making them a valuable resource for innovative curriculum development.
What is being done at UBC
Over 90 OER projects have been funded through UBC’s OER Affordability and OER Rapid Innovation grants since their creation in 2019. Below are a few that have recently helped the introduction of OER textbooks in the classroom.
Open case studies in order to facilitate a flipped classroom experience
In 2022, UBC’s Introduction to Environmental Microbiology was transformed into Foundations in Microbiology. Part of this course transformation included the addition of case studies derived from primary literature. In order to complement this new course structure, the course team, led by Evelyn Sun, is developing an OER in the form of an electronic textbook that includes the case studies in order to facilitate a flipped classroom experience.
Developing an OER textbook to meet student needs
Silvia Bartolic in the Department of Sociology transformed a formerly published Family Sociology textbook into an OER to improve accessibility and affordability. The revised version integrates interactive H5P elements, including quizzes and essay questions, to enhance student engagement and retention. Student input shaped the content, ensuring relevance and inclusivity. Once completed, the textbook will be freely available through the B.C. Open Collection, supporting open courses and reducing financial barriers to learning.
Introducing Pathology to Undergrad Students
Faculty are always looking for any teaching resources to help move away from passive learning. The Open Pathology multimedia textbook project, led by Jennifer Kong and Zoe Soon, provides for both variety and an opportunity for consolidation of multiple topics (eg. histology, anatomy, physiology, pathology, clinical care, interprofessional care etc). In addition, this OER provides a resource for faculty who do not have access to actual specimens when teaching pathology. For example, a pathology instructor can use the histopathology video lesson in lieu of a selection of still images – thus giving the students the real-life experience of using a microscope. Additionally, the textbook include student created content and the authors observed benefits to students during their generation of OER content. The faculty also benefited greatly from student involvement with respects to time, and insights gained from student perspectives.
Interactive e-book for a unique chemistry course
Vishaka Monga in the Department of Chemistry developed an interactive e-book for CHEM250, an interdisciplinary course tailored for Chemical Engineering students. The e-book integrates scientific principles with industrial applications, featuring interactive elements, simulations, and videos to enhance learning. Unlike traditional textbooks, this resource offers real-time updates and customization to align with evolving curricula. Freely accessible through the B.C. Open Collection, it reduces cost for students and serves as a valuable resource for related courses and projects.
Writing place: A scholarly writing open textbook
This project from Dr. Lindsay Cuff in the Faculties of Land & Food Systems and Forestry developed an accessible and inclusive resource designed to empower students to contribute to scholarly conversations within their disciplines and beyond. With examples specific to these Faculties, the textbook features consistent chapter elements, interactive H5P activities, and incorporates student narratives to enhance engagement. The resource also integrates decolonial perspectives, developed in consultation with the CTLT Indigenous Initiatives team. It is freely available online, promoting equitable access to scholarly writing instructions.
Developing a textbook for integral calculus with application to live sciences
The Departments of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, and Statistics in the Faculty of Science, in collaboration with UBC Okanagan, developed an open-access textbook designed to address gaps in existing resources, the textbook integrates topics like differential equations, linear algebra, probability, and statistics within real-life applications. It provides clear explanations, step-by-step solutions, and foundational algebra support to ensure accessibility for all students. Freely available online, this resource replaces costly textbooks, supports student learning, and lays the foundation for future interactive and discipline-specific expansions.
The future of open textbooks at UBC
The future of OER textbooks in institutions such as UBC is promising, with ongoing efforts to improve accessibility, quality, and funding opportunities through the UBC OER fund. Further, advancements in technology are improving the accessibility and interactivity of open textbooks through features like embedded assessments, multimedia integration, and personalized learning tools. The rise of collaborative content development is fostering the creation of high-quality, peer-reviewed open textbooks that cater to a wide range of disciplines.
“The implementation of our OER was really significant in changing the course style from a more didactic to a significantly more active format,” describes Dr. Sun.
Open textbooks are redefining how knowledge can be accessed at UBC and beyond, making learning more affordable, flexible and inclusive. By reducing financial barriers and allowing for customized content, they have the potential to improve student access and curriculum development for instructors.
“In my opinion, every course should include OER because it is accessible to all learners… Not just students but also the general public,” Dr. Kong concludes. “This knowledge should be shared everywhere, and that’s why I strongly believe in OER.”
