Presentation at European Distance and e-Learning Network (EDEN) conference, Genoa, 17th June, 2018. Nominated for best paper award.

1. Mark Brown,
Eamon Costello & Mairead Nic Giollamhichil
From Books to MOOCs and Back Again:
An Irish Case Study of Open Digital Textbooks
17st June, 2018
Genoa

2. MICRO
MACRO
MESO
NANO
Open Digital Textbooks

3. A collection of OER aggregated in a
manner that resembles a textbook but
may also be rich with media and
hyperlinks.
Open Digital Textbooks…

4. Outline…
1. Background
2. The Irish project
3. Transformative agenda

5. 2019 Conference
Dublin

6. 1. Background

7. • From 1978 to 2013 textbook prices increased
812% (Baglione & Sullivan, 2016)
• Since 2006 the cost of college textbooks
increased by 73%, which is over four times the
rate of inflation (Senack & Donoghue, 2016)
• 98% of courses require a textbook (Allen & Seaman, 2016)
In the U.S…

10. 2018

11. One third of
the case studies
involve open digital textbooks

12. Ireland one of
only three countries
not to support a MOOC initiative

13. http://ukopentextbooks.org

14. 2. The Irish project

15. Research problem...

16. Our knowledge of whether traditional textbooks
remains core to the student learning experience is
largely speculative.
Research problem...

17. Our knowledge of whether traditional textbooks
remains core to the student learning experience is
largely speculative.
With more widespread implementation of VLEs and
growth of OERs it might be reasonable to assume
that usage of textbooks is declining; however, we
simply do not have data to support or refute this
assumption.
Research problem...

18. To investigate the current and intended
future usage of open digital textbooks in
Irish higher education and their transformative
potential
Research objective...

19. 1. What is the current usage level of textbooks in
Irish higher education?
1. What awareness, experience and knowledge do
Irish educators have of open digital textbooks?
1. What awareness, experience and knowledge do
Irish students have of open digital textbooks?
Research questions...

20. 4. What are the perceived advantages and
disadvantages of adopting open digital
textbooks in Irish higher education?
5. What are the perceived barriers and enablers
likely to influence the successful enterprise-
wide adoption of open digital textbooks
Research questions...

21. 1. Environmental scan and national survey
1. Institutional case study of current and intended
practice
2. Open digital textbooks pilot and building
stronger Irish community of practice
Three work packages...

22. Work package 1
Environmental Scan

24. • 27K digital learning resources
• Approximately €5m on the NDLR service
• Demise remains a sensitive issue in Ireland

27. Largely out
of Scope

30. 2017

31. Only 17%
see as very
important in Ireland

34. Work package 2
Institutional Case Study

35. Textbooks at an Irish University
Textbooks remain in widespread use

36. • 3,000+ books
• 71.5% of books are required and the
remaining 28.5% are recommended.
• Google books returned prices for 18% of
books with costs ranging from $0.99 to over
$400.00
Mean $56.67 | Mode $9.99 | Median $40.00

37. • Staff survey
• Student focus groups
• Textbook use and non-use
Research underway…

38. 3. Transformative agenda

39. • Cost focus
• Naïve openness
• Single monolith entity
Beyond…

40. Backcasting…
Trowler, P., Ashwin, P. and Saunders, M. (2014). The Role of HEFCE in Teaching and
Learning Enhancement: A Review of Evaluative Evidence. The Higher Education
Academy, p.16.

41. Conclusion…

42. Conclusion…
• Research in progress
• Addresses significant gap
• Still dearth of government policy

43. “A prudent question is one-half of wisdom”
Francis Bacon

44. Go raibh maith
agaibh!
Thank you

45. 2019 Conference
Dublin