1. When the Virtual Meets the Real: An Assessment of the Benefits and “Costs” of Open Access Texts for First Year Writing Courses at CUNY
CUNY IT Conference
November 29, 2012
John Jay College of Criminal Justice/CUNY
Johannah Rodgers, Ph.D.
English Department
New York City College of Technology
The City University of New York

2. Introduction
In Fall, 2008, I began investigating Open Access text resources for First Year Writing courses at City Tech. The focus of this search was on OA texts, as opposed to OA textbooks.
Today, I’m going to tell you a little bit about the reasons why the English Department had an interest in exploring the use of Open Access Texts and the evolution of the project

3. Project Background
The First Year Writing program at City Tech includes two courses, ENG 1101, an introductory composition course and ENG1121, an advanced composition course
For Fall, 2010, City Tech is offering 116 sections of 1101 and 42 sections of 1121, with total student enrollment in the First Year Writing program totaling roughly 4,000 students [2784 in 101; 1134 in 121]
The average cost of a textbook for 1101 is $50 and for 1121 $100

4. Issues with Traditional Textbook Options for City Tech’s First Year Writing Courses
In addition to being concerned about the high cost of text books for the writing courses, there were a number of other issues motivating the depatment’s interest in Open Access texts:
Issues with Current Textbooks
Characteristics of Open Access Texts
High cost
Bulky and heavy
Contain more material than it is possible to teach in one semester
Uniformity of texts
Lack of contemporary readings
“Free”: many “classic” composition essays (even those NOT in the public domain) are available on the Web or via library databases
Accessible anywhere/anytime via Web and, if printed, highly portable
Highly customizable; include only readings that will be taught
Diversity of texts available
Up to the minute texts available

5. Reasons for Interest in Open Access Texts in Composition
Lower costs for students
Increase diversity of readings for English Writing courses
Use more current texts
Allow Instructors greater flexibility to select readings and design their own courses
Wide range of texts are available
Convenience/Accessibility/Portability of Web- based texts

6. When the Virtual Meets the Real: Some Practical Issues with Using OA Texts in the Composition Classroom
Resource Issues (Time and Expertise)
Lack of pedagogical apparatus (introductions, discussion questions, assignments) for Web-based texts
Lack of editing/copy-editing of Web-based texts
Labor intensive for instructor to re-format Web-based texts for print
Usability Issues
Having hard copies of texts appear to be necessary for effective in-class discussions
Students cannot yet easily annotate online texts
Student access to printers and even at times to computers is limited *

7. Discussion Questions
Do the benefits of OA texts for students texts outweigh disadvantages for instructors?
Should colleges invest in developing and editing their own text resources for the First Year Writing Program? *

8. Downsides of OA Texts
Writing instructors must take on additional roles of editor and publisher
Lack of pedagogical apparatus (discussion questions/assignments) for Web-based texts
Print-based texts appear to be necessary for effective in-class discussions
Lack of editing/copy-editing of Web-based texts
Labor intensive for instructor to re-format Web-based texts for print
Not every students has a computer at home, the majority of City Tech students do not have printers at home, and computer labs at the college are over- crowded

9. Advantages and Potential Barriers to Adoption of OA Texts in First Year Writing Courses
Lower costs for students
Increase diversity of readings for Writing courses
Use more current texts
Allow Instructors greater flexibility to select readings and design their own courses
Texts are available
Convenience/Accessibility/ Portability of online texts
POTENTIAL BARRIERS
Lack of pedagogical apparatus (discussion questions/assignments) for
Print-based texts appear to be necessary for effective in-class discussions
Not every City Tech student has a computer at home, the majority do not have printers; college computer labs are over- crowded
Lack of editing/copy-editing of Web-based texts
Labor intensive for instructor to re-format Web-based texts for print

10. Evolution of Open Access Text Project for First Year Writing Courses at City TechII
III
Digital Resources for Composition
Phase I
Phase II
City Tech Digital Reader Phase I
List of digital resources e- mailed periodically to full-time faculty
List of digital resources posted on Library Wiki; available on demand for full- time faculty
Pre-selected and thematically organized content available via Library Wiki; available on demand for full-time faculty

11. Moving Forward: Proposed Plans for Open Access Text Project for First Year Writing Courses at City Tech IV V VI
City Tech Digital Reader
Phase II
Phase III
Phase IV
Create course-long reading sequences organized by theme; available via Department Web site for full-time and, pending department approval, adjunct faculty
Create course-long reading sequences and assignments organized by theme; available to all faculty via Department Web site
Create course-long reading sequences organized by theme and author with assignments and discussion questions; available to all faculty via Department Web site