Due to the high cost of textbooks, many students choose not to purchase required textbooks in courses and are, therefore, at a significant disadvantage in their studies. In addition, even when students do purchase required course textbooks, they may not do so until well after a course has begun due to delays in receipt of financial aid. Open textbooks and other Open Educational Resources (OER) can provide these students with essential course content without imposing the financial burden associated with high-priced textbooks that may prevent them from buying necessary course texts.

Research by Hilton, Fischer, Wiley and Lane (2016) shows that students do as well or better in courses where OER is adopted. They found that OER adoption positively affected Drops and Withdrawals and grades of C or less in face-to-face, online and blended courses.

More information is available at: CETL’s Open Textbook and Open Resources Project

For more information on adopting an open textbook or developing open educational resources, contact Kristin Woodward and Amy Mangrich, at open-textbooks@uwm.edu