Online, Collaborative Textbooks Break the Mold
Regardless of subject matter, the "perfect" textbook probably d'es
not exist. Perhaps the statistics in the current edition are already out of
date, or the coverage d'esn't match the course syllabus. Such are the limitations
of the printed book.
The advent of digital media has changed all that. Publishers are pairing printed
books with Web sites that provide updates and opportunities to customize content.
Many texts are now available digitally and can even be purchased piecemeal.
On campus, teachers are developing online materials to replace or enhance printed
content. And now a new venture into open source publishing may broaden the availability
of course content dramatically. OpenMind Publishing Group provides public domain
textbooks in key academic disciplines, currently encompassing 17 areas. Professors
can adopt these texts and publish their own content through the company as well
as contribute ideas and new content to existing materials.
Adam Stone, professor of political science at Georgia Perimeter College in
Atlanta, turned to OpenMind for a textbook solution for his Introduction to
Political Science course. In six years of teaching, he still had not found the
right text for the course. "Part of the problem was that the textbooks
didn't have the broad coverage I needed," he says. "But the other
problem was that all of the texts would be out of date too quickly." Stone,
who likes to tie course content to current events, wanted a textbook that would
be updated regularly. He signed up to participate in the beta testing of an
OpenMind project by Martin Slann, Introduction to Politics: Governments and
Nations in the New Millenium. Having used Slann's textbook when it was published
by McGraw Hill, Stone knew he liked the book. Because the material is stored
digitally, the author himself can regularly update the text with election results
and international government changes.
Working with OpenMind, Stone was able to insert his own course materials into
the text, edit sections of the book, and change the order of topics at will.
OpenMind also published open source study guides, audio and video aids, and
test and quiz-building software.
Stone was impressed with the quality of the printed book his students received,
as well as the price, which was less than the price of a used textbook. In future
semesters, a card purchased at the campus bookstore will entitle students to
a copy of the book in CD, online, or print version.
For more information, contact Adam Stone at [email protected].
