Share your story of how you lowered textbook costs for your students.
Course: Introduction to Entrepreneurship
Instructor: Sherry Ridge
Textbook Success Story: Using a non-traditional text book. The text book we currently use costs our students $224.65, next semester the book will cost $21. $203.65 SAVINGS!
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Course: Web Development and Programming
Instructor: Meri Winchester
Textbook Success Story: We are using our site license for lynda.com to supplement materials in both live and online courses for programming and web development. We use free online resources at W3Schools.com and Code Academy to replace text books. In our Programming Logic course we selected a free, open source book - Think Python - that can be purchased for less than $35.00 or downloaded free from the publisher's website. Our goal is to keep books under $50 when practical, and use as many free resources as we can. Due to how rapidly our subject changes, the interactive websites are generally more current than any text, which is starting to go out of date by the time it is published.
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Course: Spanish Language courses
Instructor: Lindsay Carson
Textbook Success Story: By switching from a print book to an e-book/e-workbook combo, we saved our students up to $307.50 (net).
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Course: Culinary Management
Instructor: Tina Drzal
Textbook Success Story: We have adopted a single textbook for use in lab classes. The Culinary book covers 5 lab classes and the Pastry book covers 4 lab classes. We eliminated the online ʺstudy guideʺ package ($20 extra) for each book and use our own shared resources for homework. For industry certified classes, we are working with the publisher to order direct and include the textbook cost in student course fees. This eliminates the burden of ordering on students and ensures that everyone has the book they need on the day they need it.
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Course: Soil Science
Instructor: Bruce Spangenberg
Textbook Success Story: The base information for most textbooks covering soil science comes from the USDA Soil Survey Manual. Authors of these very expensive textbooks present material from the manual in a variety of ways. The USDA manual is free, available as a pdf online, and is not copyrighted as it is a public domain government publication. We now print the sections of the manual we need for HRT 105 and the students do not have to buy an expensive book, yet are getting the same information (actually more complete than the textbooks).
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Course: SPE 151: Introduction to Speech
Instructor: Ron Compton
Textbook Success Story: For our students in our classes which require the e-book, there is a savings of $43 vs. a new softcover print book. For our classes which allow students to choose either version, students who choose the new print book can sell it back after the course is finished to MCC's Bookstore for 50% of its original price, a reimbursement of $67.50.
Previous Book Name/Cost: Softcover print book: The Art of Public Speaking/$135
New Book Name/Cost: e-book: The Art of Public Speaking/$92
Enrollment Per Semester: 500
Savings Per Semester: $21,500
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Course: BUS 155: Business Communication
Instructor: Sara White
Textbook Success Story: We had required a hard copy, then switched to an eBook, and are now trying an OER.
Previous Book Name/Cost: Essentials of Business Communication 10e by Guffey & Loewy/$228 for print book; $58 for ebook
New Book Name/Cost: Business Communication for Success/$0
Enrollment Per Semester: 40
Savings Per Semester: $2,320 savings from ebook ($9,120 savings over print text book)
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Course: ROB 150/ROB 151 PLC Automation Applications I & II
Instructor: Jack Brzezinski
Textbook Success Story: In automation programming classes, we will be using new software and hardware recently obtained through grants. Existing textbooks provide very general and traditional introduction materials that is often incompatible with new technologies. Our goal is to make sure that the new materials support better pedagogy. Also, it is important that we guide students through practical exercises in the lab.
Previous Book Name/Cost: Programmable Logic Controllers by Schoolcraft Publishing/$80
New Book Name/Cost: Automation Programming/$0
Enrollment Per Semester: 20
Savings Per Semester: $1,600
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Course: HFE 152: Women's Health Issues
Instructor: Elaine Whalen and Vicki Hamill
Textbook Success Story: Replacing textbook with government/educational Links, Educational TED Talks and Free E-Books
Previous Book Name/Cost: Contemporary Women's Health/$133.35
New Book Name/Cost: Our Bodies, Ourselves/$15
Enrollment Per Semester: 24
Savings Per Semester: $2,840.40
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Course: HIS 170: United States History I
Instructor: Sarah Sullivan
Textbook Success Story: OER text, developing test banks, digital sources
Previous Book Name/Cost: Give me Liberty/$98
New Book Name/Cost: Voices of Freedom/$20
Enrollment Per Semester: 175
Savings Per Semester: $13,650
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Course: ENG 151/152: Comp I and Comp II
Instructor: Cynthia VanSickle & Starr Nordgren
Textbook Success Story: We created a repository of open access materials, including textbooks and full courses, as well as sample courses using all free materials for Composition I and Composition II. Instructors can begin using these materials and the repository immediately. If all faculty adopt this model, textbooks costs will drop to $0 for students.
Previous Book Name/Cost: varies/$20-$120
New Book Name/Cost: $0
Enrollment Per Semester: 1,200
Savings Per Semester: $24,000-$144,000
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Course: BUS 150: Introduction to Business
Instructor: Rich Bruce, Noelle Butski, Sherry Ridge
Textbook Success Story: We worked hard, in a week-long project, to completely eliminate the textbook cost for our Introduction to Business students. We created a repository of assignments, discussions, exercises, projects and quizzes that go hand-in-hand with the Open Educational Resource (OER) textbook, we have selected for this class, Exploring Business. Everything we chose is related to the outlined objectives for the course. We created a shell that is designed to be used as a "Cafeteria Style" repository where instructors can pick and choose the tools and resources they would like to use for their course.
Each chapter has a quiz bank with at least 20 questions to pull from for quizzes. The module items have been separated into 5 different types: assignments, case studies, discussions, exercises and projects. Most items already contain rubrics. At minimum, the rubrics include the course objectives (and in many cases the business department outcomes, and general education goals) that can be met by completion of that particular item.
Previous Book Name/Cost: Business Essentials/$121
New Book Name/Cost: Exploring Business (OER)/$0
Enrollment Per Semester: 150
Savings Per Semester: $18,150
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Course: MAT 095/099: Beginning Algebra & Intermediate Algebra
Instructor: Deborah Alheit, Heidi Boring, Mark Carlson, Marie Robison
Textbook Success Story: We have decided to adopt a textbook that is free to download for all of our Beginning and Intermediate Algebra students. Students can also choose to purchase a $12 bound copy if they desire a physical copy. During the textbook camp we developed worksheets to go along with each section in the new textbook and uploaded them into a Canvas shell for any of our math instructors to download, edit, and use as they see fit in their classrooms. We have also created template courses at www.myopenmath.com for teachers that wish to use a free online assessment resource with their classes.
Previous Book Name/Cost: Beginning and Intermediate Algebra (Sherri Messersmith)/$138
New Book Name/Cost: Beginning and Intermediate Algebra; 2nd Ed (Tyler Wallace)/$0 to download; $12 for bound copy
Enrollment Per Semester: 520
Savings Per Semester: $65,520 - $71,760
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Course: PHI 261: Religions of the World
Instructor: Meyrl Schmit and Steve Young
Textbook Success Story: Replacing textbook with less expensive text, supplemented with online resources, readings and videos.
Previous Book Name/Cost: Experiencing World Religions/$193
New Book Name/Cost: Inside World Religions/$25
Enrollment Per Semester: varies
Savings Per Semester: $168 per student
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Course: CDM 130: Windows Operating Systems
Instructor: Mike J. Tetreault
Textbook Success Story: I'm taking advantage of MCC's site license to lynda.com
Previous Book Name/Cost: MICROSOFT WINDOWS 8 COMPREHENSIVE /$120
New Book Name/Cost: none/$0
Enrollment Per Semester: 24
Savings Per Semester: $2,880
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Course: HRT 100: Introduction to Horticulture
Instructor: Bruce Spangenberg
Textbook Success Story: Over the past 2 years have changed textbooks used to now be no cost to students in 4 Horticulture AAS Core courses (HRT 100, HRT 105, HRT 150, HRT 251); have eliminated purchasing textbooks in 3 floral design courses (HRT 120, HRT 125, HRT 221); and eliminated textbook cost in 2 other elective courses (HRT 159, HRT 181)
Previous Book Name/Cost: Practical Horticulture/$164.42
New Book Name/Cost: Intro to Horticulture at MCC /$0
Enrollment Per Semester: 16
Savings Per Semester: $2,630.72
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Course: MAD 105: Programming for Android
Instructor: Meri Winchester
Textbook Success Story: We are using completely online resources, free and Lynda.com. We have the goal of removing textbook costs for the entire MAD program, it will take a few years to rewrite all of the courses to support this.
Previous Book Name/Cost: Learn Java for Android Programming/$40
New Book Name/Cost: none /$0
Enrollment Per Semester: varies
Savings Per Semester: $40 per student
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Course: PLT 151: United States Government
Instructor: Matthew Hansel
Textbook Success Story: In the past I had tried using unbound books, or "essentials" versions, but all of them continued to increase in cost after an initial reduction. Now, through OER and PBS and WGHE in Boston (the creators of the CRASH COURSE series), I've been able to replace the text book with free online resources. The new resources will engage the students more and create more interaction in class and online. I feel good about this project because I was not only able to eliminate a textbook, thus reducing the cost to students, but I was also able enhance the quality of the material they are interacting with. This will provide an environment much more conducive to learning.
Previous Book Name/Cost: American Government and Politics Today/$150
New Book Name/Cost: none /$0
Enrollment Per Semester: 75
Savings Per Semester: $11,250
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Course: HIT 240: Electronic Health Records
Instructor: Allison Minicz
Textbook Success Story: I implemented the virtual lab my students already utilize for other HIT courses. They will now have practice on four EHR's instead of one publisher created EHR.
Previous Book Name/Cost: Exploring Electronic Health Records /$117
New Book Name/Cost: none /$0
Enrollment Per Semester: 15
Savings Per Semester: $1,755
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Course: AOM 105 Keyboarding - Speed & Accuracy
Instructor: Julie Freelove
Textbook Success Story: I worked with the publisher of both of these textbooks and explained MCC's initiative. When our students complete the AOM101 - Keyboarding I class, they create a GDP account that is good for two years. They also purchase a textbook that has an abundance of drills and timings (more than we could use in just one class). After explaining this to the publisher, we created a plan where students could use their materials from AOM101 for AOM105 as well, saving students from having to purchase materials for this elective class.
Previous Book Name/Cost: Improving Speed & Accuracy In Keyboarding /$121
New Book Name/Cost: GDP Account & Book Used in AOM101 /$0
Enrollment Per Semester: 5
Savings Per Semester: $600
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Course: GER 151 Elementary German
Instructor: Silvia Schmid
Textbook Success Story: I used online sources to build an elementary course.
Previous Book Name/Cost: Wie geht's /$306.95
New Book Name/Cost: none /$0
Enrollment Per Semester: 16
Savings Per Semester: $4,900
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Course: GEL 110 Geology of the National Parks
Instructor: Kate Kramer
Textbook Success Story: Fortunately, because this course focuses on U.S. National Parks, I am able to use information from the National Park Service website and published government documents. I've linked the students to each park's Geology specific webpage for basic information via Canvas. I have also provide Government published pdf's of each parks Geologic Resource Inventory for more in-depth information regarding the geology in each park.
Previous Book Name/Cost: Parks & Plates /$124
New Book Name/Cost: none /$0
Enrollment Per Semester: 48
Savings Per Semester: $5,952
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Course: MUS 151 Music Appreciation
Instructor: Paige Lush
Textbook Success Story: Adopted a free OER text and created a playlist of public domain and creative commons licensed music in Canvas for listening examples.
Previous Book Name/Cost: The Enjoyment of Music /$126.75
New Book Name/Cost: Understanding Music Past and Present /$0
Enrollment Per Semester: 50
Savings Per Semester: $6337.50
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Course: HRT 103 Intro to Plant Science
Instructor: Bruce Spangenberg
Textbook Success Story: Similar strategy in 4 other core courses have eliminated textbook cost for students ; have also eliminated textbook in several elective courses in Department.
Previous Book Name/Cost: Introductory Botany /$245
New Book Name/Cost: Intro to Plant Science at MCC /$0
Enrollment Per Semester: 48
Savings Per Semester: $11,760
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Course: CHM 164 & CHM 165 Introductory Chemistry and General Chemistry I
Instructor: Cheryl Kordik and Mary Van Opstal
Textbook Success Story: We eliminated costly copyrighted labs procedures and rewrote and created our own lab experiments to replace them. This means the students will have one lab manual which will reduce their lab costs significantly. In doing this we formatted the new lab manual to be consistent throughout, instead of having labs from many different sources. For accessibility, we can now make these labs available through Canvas as well.
Previous Book Name/Cost: Cengage Lab Manuals/ $19.50 for 164 and $35.00 for 165
New Book Name/Cost: Custom Lab Manual /cost of printing
Enrollment Per Semester: 168 for CHM 164, 48 for CHM 165
Savings Per Semester: $3276 for CHM 164, $1680 for CHM 165
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Course: BUS 241 Legal Environment of Business
Instructor: Mary Ambrose-Gerak
Textbook Success Story: Strategies from Textbook Reduction Camp: 1. Found an OER from the Saylor Foundation and adapted it to MCC; 2. Posted the OER on the Master Shell in the Files/hdrive for their use or for them to download. 3. Found resources that are in the public domain or we have reviewed and worked through licensing issues.4. Uploaded and edited current assignments, MC videos, resources, lecture notes, quizzes and discussions; 5. Shared the materials and trained the other faculty to use this technology. We have eliminated: 1. photocopying the books in-house for the students from Business Law 23rd edition; 2. the e-book; both were two of our other previous strategies and 3. allowing the students to purchase any used edition- hoping that their instructors would assist them in adapting the materials and that all materials were covered in different editions similarly. Second, the e-book currently in use and the photocopying certain chapters were also strategies nearly as expensive as purchasing the original hard bound book. Finally, the approach allowing the students to buy any of the editions from 19th through 23rd and furnishing a memo that showed them the correct chapters in each to use was cumbersome, awkward and inefficient from the students' feedback despite that they may have used $8.00 books from Amazon used books or Half Price Books. We also received a double/triple benefit in that this new OER can be used to cut book costs for Business 240 and potentially Business Ethics 235.
Previous Book Name/Cost: Business Law/ Legal Environemnt of Business /$300 hardback, $200 for ebook
New Book Name/Cost: Business Law- Legal Environment of Business /$0
Enrollment Per Semester: 64
Savings Per Semester: $12,800
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Course: HFE 150, 161 and 171 Contemporary Health Issues, Personal Fitness, Exercise Science I
Instructor: Jim Blaz and Vicki Hamill
Textbook Success Story: We were able to find a plethora of free information for all three courses and the cost saving was significant. We re-organized our Canvas shell to allow students to open up their "Modules" page and access all information for the course. In the past, course information was scattered throughout the Canvas shell and often was confusing for students to navigate. We also created a "Master Shell" on Canvas for all HFE instructors to use for their various courses. This "Master Shell" is populated with free OER resources and will be valuable to all instructors.
Previous Book Name/Cost: Health: The Basics, Fit and Well: Abbreviated edition, Anatomy Coloring Book /$130.00, $109.75, $20.00
New Book Name/Cost: Health- Open Courseware from Foothill College, Text for Personal Fitness abandoned and all labs accessible through OERmaterials available at no cost, ANatomy/Physiology OpenStax /$0
Enrollment Per Semester: Health:50, Persoanl Fitness:25-30, Exercise Science I:25, Fall only
Savings Per Semester: HFE 150 = $6,500.00, HFE 161 = $2,743.75 - $3292.50, HFE 171 = $500.00
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Course: BIO 263 & BIO 264 Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Course Sequence
Instructor: Deborah Firak
Textbook Success Story: I do not require students to complete homework or quizzes at the Pearson website, so they don't need to purchase the access code, and can purchase a used textbook. I've written several labs and diagrams, developed audio lectures (posted in Canvas modules), and include a large variety of free access resources online (links and other documents), available to face-to-face sections, as well as to my blended sections.
Previous Book Name/Cost: Human Anatomy and Physiology by Elaine Marieb and Katja Hoehn; and Hole's Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory Manual /$315 (with required access code to Pearson MyLab & Mastering) and $160 for Hole's Lab Manual ($475.00 total)
New Book Name/Cost: 1) Anatomy & Physiology openstax textbook (Rice University) and 2) Custom lab manual, using Creative Commons source, and MCC instructor authored labs and A Brief Atlas of the Human Body by Matt Hutchinson, et. al. (used) /~$10
Enrollment Per Semester: 48 (for two sections, two labs)
Savings Per Semester: $465 for digital x 48 = $22,320.00 savings; with AP openstax bound textbook: $19,824.00 savings
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Course: HIS 172 US History II
Instructor: Sarah Sullivan
Textbook Success Story: Using an OER, which included developing chapter quizzes, restructuring the course, and designing new resources. The single book we are using goes to new editions very rarely, and because the subject is history, the text content should not change substantially, so it may be possible to use the single text for years resulting in students' ability to purchase used books. The text we are using is under $10 on Amazon.com and other web based retailers.
Previous Book Name/Cost: Give me Liberty, Voices of Freedom /$101
New Book Name/Cost: Digital History (OER) and Thinking Through Sources; Exploring American Histories /$18
Enrollment Per Semester: 200
Savings Per Semester: $16,600
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Course: GER 152 Elementary German II
Instructor: Silvia Schmid
Textbook Success Story: I was able to update my GER152 course with a more fluid course design that make interaction easier for in-person and online students. The overall flow is smoother as I used an OER textbook for the overview and basics and adding more personal touches using panopto videos, padlets, and other personally crafted docs. In fact, after the OER workshop ended, I updated GER151 with the same design. I'm happy now with GER151 and GER152, using the same course design with a structure and organization that flow into each other.
Previous Book Name/Cost: Wie geht's /$300+
New Book Name/Cost: OER Deutsch im Blick/$0
Enrollment Per Semester: 10-12
Savings Per Semester: $3,000
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Course: PHI 151 Introduction to Philosophy
Instructor: Will Behun
Textbook Success Story: In the past I've used pdfs and handouts to try to supplement or replace readings, even though I've avoided expensive textbooks. Even so, there were challenges in obtaining books on time and at minimum expense. By introducing a new html-based reader that is built into Canvas, students now have immediate access to their texts at no cost. Because many of the readings in class are historical texts, they are easily available in the public domain in good translations.
Previous Book Name/Cost: An assortment of primary texts /~$65
New Book Name/Cost: Introduction to Philosophy: An Historical Reader/$0
Enrollment Per Semester: 35-70
Savings Per Semester: $2,275-4,550
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Course: AOM 140 Integrated Office Applications
Instructor: Connie Lambke and Heather Courtney
Textbook Success Story: Eliminated textbook costs by creating content and using open resources.
Previous Book Name/Cost: GO!W/MICROSOFT OFFICE 2016 INTEGRATED PROJECTS /$164.27
New Book Name/Cost: None/$0
Enrollment Per Semester: 40
Savings Per Semester: $6,571
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