Join us for a workshop presented by the Open Textbook Network (OTN) to learn more about open textbooks and ways to support faculty open textbook adoption through coordinated efforts across campus. 

This workshop will touch on the following topics: 

• Open and Open Educational Resources (OER) - what it is and isn't
• How issues of textbook affordability can impact student academic success
• Responses to common concerns about OER adoption 
• Ways to integrate supporting open education into existing workflows

Light refreshments provided.

This workshop is limited to invited guests. If you are interested in attending or have questions or about open educational resources, including open textbooks, please contact Elizabeth Salmon, Research Services Librarian at esalmon@ucmerced.edu.

Why Explore Open Textbooks?
Open textbooks are educational resources licensed to be freely used, edited and distributed. By using open textbooks, faculty can customize content to reach desired student learning outcomes. Open textbooks can also help alleviate the burden of textbook costs for students.
 
Help Lower Textbook Costs for Students
The high cost of some course materials can impede students’ academic success.

• UC Merced asks students to budget approximately $1,109 per year for books and supplies.
• The cost of textbooks is rising at a rate of four times inflation.
• Seven out of 10 students don’t purchase a required textbook during their academic career because of cost.
• 60% of students have delayed purchase of textbooks until they’ve received their financial aid. 

About the Open Textbook Network
The Open Textbook Network (OTN) helps higher education institutions and systems advance the use of open textbooks and practices on their campuses. The OTN maintains the Open Textbook Library, the premiere resource for peer-reviewed academic textbooks. All OTN textbooks are free, openly licensed, and complete; their adoption creates a measurable, positive impact on student success.