In Fall 2018, we adopted an Openstax textbook, Principles of Macroeconomics 2e, in an introductory economic class that enrolls approximately 800 students every academic year. The result of an end-of-semester survey indicated that the students appreciated the use of a free textbook, and the majority of them were overall satisfied with the textbook. However, they wished the book could be more visual, more interactive, and the assessment could better help them learn. With support from an Affordable Learning Georgia grant, we formed a team that comprises of subject matter expert, content and assessment developer, multimedia and web developer, and instructional designer, working together to redesign the textbook. In this session, we will share our experiences of leveraging media, pedagogy, and student collaboration to redesign this textbook. Specifically, we will discuss how the successful transformation of the textbook was accomplished through rigorous application of the following six strategies:
1.Multimedia learning: We employed six research-based principles for multimedia learning as the guidelines for presenting the textbook content. 2.Active learning: We engaged students with frequent self-assessment exercises embedded in the textbook. 3.Practice with feedback: We provided students with instant feedback on both correct and incorrect answer choices when they practiced with the embedded exercises. 4.Students as producers: We believed in the benefits of a student-as-producer approach – students are not only consumers of knowledge but also producers of knowledge. We recruited several students to help with content, assessment, and web design under the supervision and guidance of the project leads. They have had some experience with the course, for example, completing the course as a student, working as a teaching assistant, or a peer tutor for the course. Their perspectives on how a textbook should be designed for students became valuable assets for the project. 5.Peer review: The textbook was reviewed by people who are not involved in the project before it was made available to students. 6.Student feedback: Feedback will be collected from students for future revision and improvement of the textbook.
The redesigned textbook was put into use in Fall 2020, and we are currently collecting student feedback. During this session, we will also share the initial findings of a student survey on the usefulness and effectiveness of the textbook.
Learning Outcomes: Participants will be able to identify pedagogies, technologies, and strategies for designing and redesigning interactive open educational resources that engage students. They will also be able to discuss how they could adopt and adapt them to their own design and redesign.
