Do your students frequently ask if the textbook for your course is really required? Do you suspect that some, perhaps many of your students don't buy the book? Do you want to explore some relatively new options?

Open textbooks are full, real textbooks, created and used by faculty across the country. They are licensed to be freely used, customized, and distributed. Many faculty from around the world have chosen to freely share their original course materials with other faculty, students, and the general public as a service to their discipline and to their students.

In addition to alleviating the burden of textbook costs for students, open textbooks can be customized.  

This workshop covers:
- Discussion of course material perceptions and preferences
- Course material impacts on students
- What we mean (and don’t mean) by “open textbook”
- Creative Commons licenses
- VT’s Guidelines on Open Educational Resources (OER) and Open Textbooks
- Other faculty reviews
- An invitation to write a short review of an open textbook (and get $200!)*

Over 1,600 open textbooks are available via https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks However, open textbooks are not available for all subjects.

After the workshop, you will be asked to write a short review of an open textbook. Your review will benefit other faculty considering open textbooks. Stipends of $200 will be given to faculty for their participation and written review. 
 
To be eligible for a stipend, faculty must apply here: https://bit.ly/intro-open-textbooks, participate in the workshop, complete a written review, and disclose whether or not they decided to adopt.  You'll also need to submit a signed IRS form to VIVA so that you can be paid.

Additional information and assistance with open textbook customization is available.

The Open Textbook workshop is a member benefit of the Virtual Library of Virginia's membership in the Open Textbook Network, an alliance of schools committed to access, affordability, and student academic success through the use of open textbooks. The workshop is facilitated by Anita Walz of the University Libraries at Virginia Tech.

Questions? Please contact: Anita Walz  arwalz@vt.edu

All Virginia Tech faculty and GTAs are invited to attend. Capacity is limited and open textbooks are not available for all subjects. VIVA funds stipends only for faculty and staff advisors who teach. Availability of stipends is based on textbook subject area availability for books related to courses you teach.

After the workshop, faculty participants will be invited to write a short review of an open textbook within about six-eight weeks. Reviews are publicly available and benefit other faculty considering open textbooks.

Faculty and staff advisors who teach who 1) register for the workshop at https://bit.ly/intro-open-textbooks 2) attend the workshop and 3) complete a written review within six weeks will receive a $200 stipend from VIVA for their participation and written review. VIVA (the Virtual Library of Virginia) funds and coordinates reviewer payments and will require a signed IRS form in order to process your payment.

If you are an individual with a disability and ingdesire an accommodation, please contact Anita Walz at 540-231-2204 or email arwalz@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.