Open textbooks 'an easy choice' for Kwantlen professor

"How many struggling students do you think avoid buying pricey textbooks, and take a hit for it academically, every year? According to Dr. Rajiv Jhangiani, a psychology professor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, it's more than half. That's why he's behind a movement to provide free access to Open Textbooks, a service by BCcampus that lets the top-40 most enrolled post-secondary courses provide required texts for little to no cost.  The open textbooks, which can be found online at BCcampus.ca or on a class-shared site such as Moodle where the professor may choose to share the file, can be accessed in various formats. Students and instructors can download the material and use them on tablets, smartphones, on computers and even opt to have the books printed and bound for about $13.

With some introductory course textbooks coming with a price tag of $150 to $200, it's obvious why some students might avoid taking the financial hit — especially when they're struggling to pay rent and other bills ..."