Open_textbook

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Open textbook

An open textbook is an openly-licensed textbook offered online by its author(s). The open license sets open textbooks apart from traditional textbooks by allowing users to read online, download, or print the book at no cost.

Open textbooks are increasingly seen as a potential solution to some of the challenges with the traditional textbook publishing model.

Definition

For a textbook to be considered open, it must be licensed in a way that grants a baseline set of rights to users that are less restrictive than its standard copyright. A license or list of permissions must be clearly stated by the author.

Generally, the minimum baseline rights allow users at least the following:

to use the textbook without compensating the author
to copy the textbook, with appropriate credit to the author
to distribute the textbook non-commercially
to shift the textbook into another format (such as digital or print)

Many authors also grant rights such as:

to add, remove or alter content in the textbook, often on the condition that derivative works must have the same license
to copy and distribute the textbook without giving credit to the author
to use the textbook commercially

Some advocates believe that the baseline rights must be more extensive to be considered "open" (see Controversies).

Affordability

Since open textbooks can be used at no cost and printed at the cost of production, the use of open textbooks would reduce the cost of education significantly.

Open textbooks are also seen by advocates as potential competition in the textbooks market. Nicole Allen of Make Textbooks Affordable told USA Today:

"The open textbooks that are out there serve as proof that it is possible to have a high-quality open textbook that is being used in classrooms. They might just be the thing that will change the textbook industry for the better."

Instruction

Open textbooks are flexible in ways that traditional textbooks are not, which gives instructors more freedom to use them in the way that best meets their instructional needs.

One common frustration with traditional textbooks is the frequency of new editions, which force the instructor to modify the curriculum to the new book. Any open textbook can be used indefinitely, so instructors need only change editions when they think it is necessary.

Many open textbooks are licensed to allow modification. This means that instructors can add, remove or alter the content to better fit a course's needs.

Furthermore, the cost of textbooks can in some cases contribute to the quality of instruction when students are not able to purchase required materials.

Licensing

The most common open licenses are: Creative Commons

Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike
Attribution Share-Alike

GNU Free Documentation License
Public Domain

Authorship

Open textbook authors do not receive compensation for the use of their textbook. Some authors receive indirect compensation through the sale of printed copies, supplements or advertising, or are subsidized by institutions or grants.

Since it is the decision of the author to make a textbook open, authorship is voluntary.