Metro Vancouver, B.C. - Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) and BCcampus are excited to announce that beginning this summer, psychology instructors at KPU will now be able to adopt in their classes a textbook published by a traditional for-profit publisher, or an open textbook. In the past, all introductory psychology courses at KPU have used the same mandatory textbooks.
Open textbooks are available free of charge if accessed online, or at a lower cost than a traditional textbook if portions are printed out. This results in significant savings for students in B.C.
In fact, because introductory psychology is such a popular course, KPU anticipates that students will initially save tens of thousands of dollars by accessing their books online, and eventually, millions. Open textbooks are licensed under a flexible copyright licence (e.g., a Creative Commons licence) that also permit instructors to modify, adapt and update the textbooks to suit their teaching goals.
As of today, KPU is the top adopting institution in British Columbia, reaching over 100 open textbook adoptions, nearly double that of any other post-secondary institution in the province.
Other instructors and administrators will be able to learn from the KPU faculty who helped make this happen in an upcoming panel discussion at the Festival of Learning. Panelists will share strategies, lessons learned and practical advice for opening a department. The workshop, titled How to open a psychology department: what we have learned two years into our journey will feature KPU psychology faculty members Farhad Dastur, David Froc, Rajiv Jhangiani, Richard Le Grand and Kurt Penner.
For more information on open textbooks and the work of BCcampus, or to read the original release, visit open.bccampus.ca.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University has served the Metro Vancouver region since 1981, and has opened doors to success for more than 200,000 learners. Four campuses—Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley—offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs in business, liberal arts, design, health, science and horticulture, trades and technology, and academic and career advancement. Over 19,000 students annually have a choice from over 120 programs, including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, citations and apprenticeships. Learn more at kpu.ca.
Media contact:
Hayley Woodin
Media Specialist
t: 604.599.2883
c: 604.364.1288
hayley.woodin@kpu.ca
For more KPU news:
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