New World University OpenEd16
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New World University is converting open textbooks from PDF to EPUB format and developing supplemental multimedia materials to make the textbooks more accessible on mobile devices and enhance the learning experience. They are reformatting textbooks from sources like Saylor Academy and the Global Text Project. In addition to converting file formats, the university is curating open video content and creating their own videos to supplement each textbook chapter. Finally, the completed open textbook courses will be packaged into Moodle courses and made freely available to share more broadly.
New World University OpenEd16
- 1. Steve Foerster New World University steve.foerster@newworld.ac http://newworld.ac @NewWorldU Extending Open Textbook Usefulness Through Reformatting and Multimedia
- 2. Introductions New World University is a small, new institution based in Roseau, Dominica Presently we reach students in Nigeria and Cameroon, with study centres to follow in Ghana and Uganda We offer 100% stackable qualifications: • One year certificate, two year diploma, three year BSc degree • Presently only in Business but roadmap includes programmes in ICTs, Development Studies, and Education (for schoolteachers) Assessment and instruction are separate, CBE-like
- 4. OER Textbooks New World University originally grew from an OER project called the Free Curricula Centre, now a centre of practice within the institution Our curricula are based on OER textbooks. (Our thanks to the Saylor Academy and the Global Text Project for their work on this!) Textbooks are a convenient starting point, but there are drawbacks also: • Often available only as PDF • No supplemental materials
- 5. ` EPUB Initiative Generally our students can access computers at study centres But all of them carry mobiles, so accommodating that is best PDF displays horribly on small screens, while EPUB does not We are converting OER textbooks from PDF to EPUB and releasing them back to the community
- 6. Multimedia Enhancements Most OER textbooks still come without supplements Commercial publishers often claim their digital enhancements justify usurious prices To include a multimedia experience, we curated playlists of online videos that supplement the materials in each textbook chapter Next we are replacing third party videos with bespoke videos to have a more seamless experience, these videos will also be openly released
- 7. Other Ways to Share Once we have a subject that includes EPUB versions of textbooks and various supplemental videos, we wrap that up into a Moodle course By the end of Q4, we will have started making Moodle backups freely available
- 8. Steve Foerster New World University steve.foerster@newworld.ac http://newworld.ac @NewWorldU Extending Open Textbook Usefulness Through Reformatting and Multimedia