Open Content and the Global Text Project Don McCubbrey

The Cost of Textbooks is a Problem It’s a huge issue in the US Prices increasing at twice the rate of inflation Publishers come out with unnecessary new editions to cripple the used book market Often cannot buy unbundled versions International editions typically cost 50% of the US edition Distributors can’t import international editions

Dealing With the Cost of Textbooks Action Groups OER Commons MIT Open Courseware Rice University – Connexions Academic Earth Alternative Business Models –Online editions of traditional textsOnline editions of traditional texts –Textbook rental sitesTextbook rental sites –Low cost or free textsLow cost or free texts –eReaderseReaders Textbook Transparency Laws

BUT… A $150 textbook in the US will cost $75 in sub-Saharan Africa. Even international editions are out of reach of students in developing economies. The lack of current, high-quality textbooks is a barrier for students in developing economies to lift themselves and their countries out of poverty.

"Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world“ Nelson Mandela

Global Text An Overview

Global Text Core Team PersonAffiliationRoles Richard WatsonUniversity of Georgia Co-leader Editor-in-Chief Information Systems Don McCubbreyUniversity of Denver Co-leader Editor-in-Chief Business Fundamentals Wayne HuangOhio UniversityChinese library Andres SepulvedaUniversity of ConcepciónSpanish library Kevin DesouzaUniversity of WashingtonChief Community Organizer (CCO) Franz LehnerUniversity of PassauChief Technical Officer (CTO)

THE GLOBAL TEXT PROJECT : Content is developed by the collective intelligence of a dispersed community Content is reviewed by qualified experts Books are copy-edited, loaded to an online repository, and are available for free Books may be read online, downloaded to laptops, printed, or read on e-media Users are encouraged to modify books to suit local circumstances Books are initially available in Arabic, Chinese, English, and Spanish

Openness dimensions AccessOpenProprietary EditingEveryoneFew ReviewingInformalFormal TimelinessDynamicStatic

PROJECT STATUS Community includes academics, students, and practitioners – over 50 universities worldwide Pilot tests completed in Ethiopia and Indonesia Over 50 books available now50 books Goal is to have 1000 books covering every subject in the first two years of university Support from Corporations and Foundations Some recent publicity –Times Higher EducationTimes Higher Education –Costa Mesa ProfCosta Mesa Prof

STUDENT INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES Acquisition Production Promotion Marketing – Books – Disciplines – Countries, Regions Countries Translation Student Quality Circles

GLOBAL TEXT “Engaging Many for the Benefit of Many More”