#open source textbook

[opensourceguidestone]

A site for open source physics textbooks

Please find the first in a series of sites spotlighted on this tumblr that are dedicated to spreading knowledge to one and all for free

This site is dedicated to physics

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[bookgatorweb-blog]

The All-Around Benefits of Open Source Textbooks

The world has really gone expensive; everything we buy, both our needs and wants, are consistently increasing in price. However, we don't always have money on our hands, which is exactly why we look for cheaper things to buy, or as much as possible, we buy lesser things.

From preschool up to college, we all base our knowledge on books. However, buying books could cost you a lot; there are big books which are expensive, and there are those small books that are also expensive, or more, like the bigger ones.

Now, if you think that there's no other way than buying secondhand books just to spend less when you don't have anyone to lend you one, well, think again. Technology has saved our pockets from ripping off over and over again; they have invented a cheaper way of providing us books. "Open Source Textbooks" - your cheaper (but better) and lighter versions of our traditional textbooks.

Cheaper - You could purchase soft copy files online. However, there are open authors who publish their books on the internet for free. Although these books cost lesser, this doesn't mean that the information offered to us have decreased as well. Because there are open source textbooks that has equal contents, and at the same time, they have much more to give. And not only does open source textbooks stitch up our pockets, but also, they set our minds at peace.

Imagine if you’re a part-time worker, plus you’re taking up your master’s degree with the help of your student loans, and you happen to be on your last year at school, but then you haven’t saved enough money to pay off your debts. We shouldn’t let books build walls between students and their wanting to learn, because these students someday could bring great ideas to mankind.

Lighter - As we all have experienced, we have common hatred for carrying many kilo-laden books on our bags. Some students have I-pads and laptops wherein they could use it to project the open source textbooks they got online to guide them in their studies. On the other hand, for those students who couldn’t afford to purchase such gadgets, they would just print some pages from open source textbooks when they need it, and bring it with them at school or to anywhere they need it. Still, access is easy and bringing of very heavy books in school can soon be history.

Books may appear in different forms, but content is really what matters most. However, we have issues in life that sets limits to our actions, especially in decision-making. So in looking for cheaper ways in buying books, always compare the price with its worth...never mind if it’s a hard or soft copy.

Image by dieselbug2007

[bonblog-blog]

"Textbooks need to change if we hope to have a truly digital classroom (whether it’s an in-person or online classroom)." 

디지털이 주는 최대 강점은 방대한 양의 최신 콘텐츠를 활용하기 유용하다는 점, 재생산이 쉽다는 점, 내용에 더불어 다양한 상호작용이 가능하다는 점, 활용을 통해 발생하는 다양한 데이터를 활용할 수 있다는 점 등 무한한 장점이 있다. 

그러나, 현재의 컨텐츠들은 대부분 종이책을 만드는 출판사에서 디지털로 전환하기 때문에 가격이 상대적으로 싸지 않고, Open/Free 컨텐츠의 경우 양질의 컨텐츠가 있음에도 아직은 Open/Free 컨텐츠 품질에 대한 인식의 문제, 그런 컨텐츠를 찾기 어렵다는 문제 등 해결해야할 과제들이 있다. 

중요한건 Open/Free Textbook이 활성화 되고, 쉽고 편하게 찾아서 사용할 수 있게 되고, 이에 자극 받아 출판사의 Textbook의 가격이 낮아지고, 또한 자유로운 활용이 가능하게 되는 시기가 된다면 분명 Digital Classroom, Digital Education에 있어 진정한 변화가 시작될 듯.