Details of the webinar content are available at http://collegeopentextbooks.ning.com/
ODG-COT Collaborative http://collegeopentextbooks.org/
Webinar presenters are ODG-COT Executive Director Mitchell Levy; Beth Aguiar, Bridgepoint Education VP of Business Development & Marketing; Michael Boezi, VP Content & Community, Flat World Knowledge; and Caroline Vanderlip, CEO of SharedBook whose services include AcademicPub.
During today's event, Levy will announce ODG-COT's support for creating sustainable business models that include low-cost open-licensed textbooks and custom licenses, such as the one used by Flat World Knowledge, a Collaborative member. ODG-COT will begin listing these titles on the popular College Open Textbooks website, along with more than 700 open-licensed textbooks.
Vanderlip will describe how SharedBook's AcademicPub platform provides a seamless way to integrate both open-licensed and commercial content for course packs and custom materials. Aguiar will be announcing the general availability of the Thuze platform, content catalog, and editorial services team to other institutions.
Authors and other creators and copyright holders are often willing to offer low prices for high quality textbooks and course materials, but they are reluctant to publish their works under an open license. For the first time, ODG-COT will be able to point instructors to these valuable resources by designating them as Affordable Copyright All Rights Reserved (ACARR).
"Open licensing of educational materials, including textbooks, emerged a decade ago as one solution to the rising cost of education,” said Levy. “The supply of high-quality, open-licensed textbooks remains very low due to the costs of developing, maintaining, and marketing these materials. Sustainable business models are required.”
“We are walking the talk with the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) textbooks published on the AcademicPub platform, ranging from $16 to $20, and protected by Digital Rights Management,”
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About Open Doors Group - College Open Textbooks
Open Doors Group (ODG) is a collaborative of individuals and educational, non-profit, for-profit and government institutions. Its purpose is to prepare students for the future by promoting, producing and distributing Open Educational Resources (OER); supporting students and educators in adopting and using OER; expanding access to education for all learners; and researching and evaluating the impact of OER. ODG sponsors a number of projects aimed at achieving these goals. ODG can be found at http://www.opendoorsgroup.org. College Open Textbooks, a project of ODG, seeks to drive the awareness, adoption, access, and affordability of open textbooks, primarily at the two-year college level. The COT website links to more than 700 open textbooks in twenty-four subject areas, many of which are peer-reviewed. COT also sponsors a number of Communities of Practice, self-supporting peer groups of educators who wish to support the adoption of OER in particular subject areas. COT can be found at http://www.collegeopentextbooks.org. For more information contact Rekha Raman, Sr. Marketing Manager, rekha.raman@
About AcademicPub
AcademicPub, the technology platform of SharedBook Inc. for higher education, assembles, composes, prices and delivers custom textbooks - in eBook and/or print format. AcademicPub allows for immediate creation and inclusion of copyright-cleared content from anywhere, such as web articles, self-generated lectures or from the AcademicPub Content Library. Digital or print distribution generates a fast and easy way for educators to provide an engaging educational experience, with lower prices and up-to-the-minute materials for students. More information and free registration for faculty is available at http://www.academicpub.com. Headquartered in New York since 2004, SharedBook Inc. is privately held and can be found at http://www.sharedbook.com.
About Bridgepoint Education
Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (NYSE:BPI) improves the way individuals learn. By harnessing creativity, knowledge and proprietary technologies, such as Constellation, Thuze and Waypoint Outcomes, Bridgepoint Education has re-engineered the modern student experience with innovative solutions that advance learning. Its accredited institutions – Ashford University and University of the Rockies – embody the contemporary college experience. Ashford University offers associate's, bachelor's and master's degree programs while University of the Rockies offers master’s and doctoral degree programs. Both provide progressive online platforms, as well as traditional campuses located in Clinton, Iowa (Ashford University), and Colorado Springs, Colorado (University of the Rockies). For more information about Bridgepoint Education, visit www.bridgepointeducation.com or call Shari Winet Rodriguez, vice president of Public Relations, at 858.668.2580
About Flat World Knowledge
Flat World Knowledge fosters student and institutional success with a digital content platform and expert-authored, peer-reviewed course materials that enable control and personalization to improve learning outcomes. At the college and system level, we are collaborating with leaders seeking new ways to tackle many of today’s toughest challenges – affordability, learning analytics, and institutional sustainability. Founded in 2007, Flat World is funded by Bessemer Venture Partners, Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, and Random House, Inc., among others, and is based in Irvington, New York. Visit http://www.flatworldknowledge.com;
