This session examines textbook affordability and the influence of textbook costs on student learning and achievement including the possibilities of open educational resources (OER) in reducing the equity gap.
Since the 1980s the costs of textbooks has risen twice the amount of inflation. In some cases, students who cannot afford the price of textbooks are not buying required materials and relying on lectures, class notes, and the Internet to learn course content increasing the achievement disparity between the students who have access to resources and those who do not. In this session, we will discuss 1) the factors influencing the increase in college textbook prices, 2) the role of faculty in textbook affordability, 3) federal and state initiatives addressing textbook affordability, 3) open license materials in lieu of commercial textbooks, 4) creating equitable learning experiences for students using open educational resources, 5) and faculty concerns about open license materials.