Luke Padgett, Library, Academic Division
Phoebe Nimanis, Library, Academic Division
Anna Klebansky, Library, Academic Division
Sheree Lloyd, Tasmanian School of Business and Economics
Like all Australian universities, the University of Tasmania (UTAS) is navigating a changing framework of National and State drivers to deliver high quality accessible higher education for the people of Tasmania, Australia and the world. The principles for this delivery have been captured within strategic themes at the University (University of Tasmania, 2024) and this has informed the direction taken by the UTAS library to support the adoption and development of Open Textbooks.Â
Over 46 open textbooks have been published in Australia and New Zealand since a national open textbook publishing pilot began in 2022 and there are over 50 more in development (Council of University Librarians, 2024). The main drivers for this activity have been a need for redistributive justice (costs to access learning for students), recognitive and representational justice (fair representation within the textbook contents) and flexibility to embed textbook content within the local learning environments (Lambert & Fadel, 2022).
Through a combination of demonstration and hands-on activities, this workshop aims to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop their own high-quality open textbooks. It will provide an overview of the steps involved in creating an open textbook, from initial concept development to final publication. Key topics will include obtaining support, identifying and curating content, understanding copyright and licensing, utilizing tools and platforms, and engaging in communities of practice, collaborative authoring and peer review practices. It will also explore the integration of open textbooks within existing and new learning environments.
Council of University Librarians. (2024). Open Educational Resources Collective. CAUL. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from https://oercollective.caul.edu.au/
Lambert, S. R., & Fadel, H. (2022). Open textbooks and social justice: A national scoping study. Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success, available at: www.ncsehe.edu.au/publications/open-textbooks-social-justice
University of Tasmania. (2024). Our Strategic Direction. University of Tasmania. Retrieved September 24, 2024, from https://universitytasmania.sharepoint.com/sites/division-of-the-vc/SitePages/Our-Strategic-Direction.aspx