Open Textbooks Help Students Cut Costs | WSKG

"College students in the U.S. average $1,200 in textbook costs per year. This month SUNY took steps to cut that cost with its Affordable Learning Solutions program. Courtney O’Hagen is a SUNY Broome psychology professor with a common problem: her students don’t read their textbook. But recently O’Hagen realized they’re not reading it because they’re not buying it. 'So I asked them what their reason was for not purchasing the textbook, and for many of them it was that they could not afford the textbook,' O’Hagen says ... So O’Hagen found a solution. She got rid of the standard book and is using an 'open textbook.'  Students access the book for free online. 'Open textbook' means the material has an open copyright license. Students can download and read a PDF or print it out.   Starting with California in 2012, university systems in almost every state have begun developing and publishing open textbooks. In New York, Open SUNY has just completed its second year. It provides professor-written and reviewed books at no cost ..."