Publisher John Wiley & Sons, Inc., US, has announced a partnership with Rice University-based OpenStax College, which is considered a newcomer from the 'open education resources' (OER) movement. The partnership calls for Wiley to deliver content from OpenStax College's two new biology textbooks via WileyPLUS with its online learning, practice and assessment resources that are reportedly proven to improve learning outcomes. Pilot tests are slated to begin this fall.
OpenStax College uses philanthropic support to produce high-quality textbooks through a rigorous development and review process. All OpenStax textbooks are available free online. Its first two books, introductory texts for physics and sociology, were adopted by educators at more than 100 schools and downloaded more than 30,000 times in their first six months. The pairing with WileyPLUS is projected to reduce costs, personalise education and improve learning outcomes.
WileyPLUS, a research-based online learning environment, seeks to enhance student success. It is already offered with more than 300 Wiley titles and is used in more than 20 countries. Wiley and OpenStax College will work with colleges and instructors to set up pilot tests of the new textbooks and WileyPLUS resources this fall. This community effort is expected to enhance the effectiveness and usability of the final product. Prices have not been set, but inclusion of the free books will significantly reduce costs to students, it is felt.
