HNU Library: Open Educational Resources (OER): Authoring Open Textbooks

Librarian Assistance

Are you considering authoring and publishing OER content? Reach out to a librarian for guidance in next-steps from our contact page.

Authoring an Open Textbook

Hosted by the Open Education Network, this video series provides an opportunity to consider strategic approaches to building open textbooks and other OER publishing programs.

The three sessions focus on key topics:

1) Should you publish?

2) How should you publish?

3) Implementing a publishing program.

Holy Names University is a member of the Open Textbook Network

The Open Textbook Network (OTN) is a diverse community of higher education institutions that promote access, affordability, and student success through the use of open textbooks. Open textbooks are funded, published, and licensed to be freely used, adapted, and distributed. The Open Textbook Network manages the Open Textbook Library, a comprehensive resource for peer-reviewed open textbooks that can be downloaded at no cost or printed at a low cost.

As a member of the Open Textbook Network, Holy Names University faculty are encouraged to participate in the OTN's Publishing Cooperative, a community that provides shared infrastructure, processes, and resources to expand open textbook publishing in higher education.

Authoring Open Textbooks by the Open Textbook Network
This guide is for faculty authors, librarians, project managers and others who are involved in the production of open textbooks in higher education and K-12. Content includes a checklist for getting started, publishing program case studies, textbook organization and elements, writing resources and an overview of useful tools.
A Guide to Making Open Textbooks with Students (from the Open Textbook Network)
A handbook for faculty interested in practicing open pedagogy by involving students in the making of open textbooks, ancillary materials, or other Open Educational Resources. This is a first edition, compiled by Rebus Community, and we welcome feedback and ideas to expand the text.

Additional Guides for Authoring Open Textbooks

Open Education Self-Publishing Guide
The BCcampus Open Education Self-Publishing Guide is a reference for individuals or groups wanting to write and self-publish an open textbook.This guide provides details on the preparation, planning, writing, publication, and maintenance of an open textbook. Copyright, open-copyright licences, and the differences between citation and attribution are discussed as well as the importance of copy editing and proofreading. Checklists and templates are also provided. This guide replaces the BCcampus Open Education Authoring Guide.
Open Pedagogy Notebook
Open Textbook authors, Robin DeRosa, Phd and Rajiv Jhangiani, Phd have created a website designed to serve as a resource for educators interested in learning more about Open Pedagogy and participating in the Open Educational movement. Browse through the examples, which include both classroom-tested practices and budding ideas, and to consider contributing examples of your own experiments with open pedagogy.
80 Open Educational Resources tools
Includes 80 online resources that you can use to learn how to build or participate in a collaborative educational effort that focuses on publication and development of those materials. Although some choices focus solely on publication, development, or tools used to accomplish either effort, some provide multifaceted venues that offer communities in which to collaborate on one or all of these efforts.
Rights Reversion and Open Textbooks
If you've published a textbook that is several years old, you might be able to use Rights Reversion to obtain the rights to publish a new version as an Open Textbook. Read this story about Dale Cannon's successful negotiation for rights to his book.
Ten Tips for OER Authoring Success
Based on conversations with authors and project managers who have successfully developed and produced open textbooks, this is a list of authoring tips for success. It describes practical and philosophical strategies for authoring, particularly in a higher education environment, and provides support for those considering this worthwhile and exciting prospect.

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Open Educational Resources (OER)

Librarian Assistance

Authoring an Open Textbook

Additional Guides for Authoring Open Textbooks