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Richard Baraniuk Connexions Rice University

All things Connexions Update 24 January 2012. Richard Baraniuk Connexions Rice University. Connexions (cnx.org). non-profit open education platform founded at Rice in 1999 1200 open textbooks/collections 20000 Lego modules from contributors worldwide in 40+ languages.

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Richard Baraniuk Connexions Rice University

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  1. All things Connexions Update 24 January 2012 Richard Baraniuk Connexions Rice University

  2. Connexions (cnx.org) • non-profit open education platform • founded at Rice in 1999 • 1200 open textbooks/collections • 20000 Lego modules • from contributors worldwide • in 40+ languages usage per month:>2 million unique users100 million hitsfrom 190 countries

  3. free online: 3 million uses to date iPad/iPhone/Androidvia ePub $26 in print(627 pages)

  4. platform/software • Embarking on re-design and re-implementation of Connexions platform • Partners • Hewlett Foundation $275k • Open Society Foundations $233k • Google $220k • also providing substantial technical support (2 software engineers, 2 project managers) + free access to Google Cloud (App Engine) • Platform features • cloud-based (Google App Engine), so scalable • much easier editing for authoring and re-mix (ideally Google Docs/Google Sites) • open-source and accessible to other OER projects

  5. platform/software • Progress to date • Prototype repository live at pilot.cnxproject.org • Rice hiring 2 additional software engineers • Legal snafu: Google App Engine (GAE) Terms of Service (TOS) require Rice/Connexions to indemnify Google for any legal problems associated with Connexions potential Achilles Heal for all OER projects wrt cloud!! • Solution to date: • Rice has signed GAE TOS but will allow only Rice-owned content to be used during development (due to indemnification) • Connexions/Google teams aggressively brainstorming solutions (but could use more help)

  6. some Connexions partners Community College Open Textbook Project 200+ CC’s in USA and Canada developing a suite of free open textbooks Siyavula / Shuttleworth Foundation complete K-12 curriculum for South Africa Government of Vietnam developing new curriculum at 40 universities IEEE quality review of open materials(IEEEcnx.org)

  7. college access project (CAP) • Connexions has been successful with “viral”OER model • But in order to “cross the chasm” and attain large adoption soon, need a turn-key OER solution • Textbook • Ancillaries • Homework system, … • CAP goal: Develop turn-key OER solution for 5 key (community) college courses Physics, Sociology, Anatomy and Physiology, Biology for Majors, Biology for Nonmajors • Funders: Hewlett, Gates, 20MM, Maxfield Foundations

  8. Re-Branding

  9. Content Development Strategy • Hybrid model • combine publisher's best practices with accelerated development model and diverse talent network • Community model • engage market to help refine the products as they are used • Curation model • part of W&N ongoing maintenance strategy and process to refine first-edition books • Smart Art • simple effective use of color for A&P and Biology • Balance • science content is about accuracy, humanities content is about multiple perspectives • Create and Seed • ensure best results

  10. Marketing Short term goals • Meet delivery dates • Launch pilot programs • Raise awareness Longer term goals • Track outcomes: • Adoption, Total usage, Derivatives and Versions, Dollars saved • Scale program to drive change among many markets • Establish sustaining ecosystem • New products and services • Sustainability revenue • Expand OSC library

  11. OER 1.0 Market OER Producer Discipline Communities Publisher Subscription Services Technology Service Provider Academic Community Legislative/ Community OER Producer Students/PIRG

  12. Limitations of OER 1.0 Model inconsistent quality standards lack of turn-key solutions lack of coordination around a common core lack of blended solutions faculty tend to adapt after they adopt, not vice-versa no sustainable reward structure for content producers lack of cooperation with “for profit” providers (ex: noncommercial licenses)

  13. emerging OER 2.0 ecosystem OER Producer Discipline Communities Publisher Subscription Services Academic Community Learning Outcome Development Standards Technology Service Provider OER Marketplace Legislative/ Community OER Producer Students/PIRG

  14. Network of Partners

  15. Partner Update • Online homework system supporting OSC Physics • Physics content integrated into their homework • Dedicated sales force of 24 • Sharing CRMS contact database • Revenue sharing (mission support fee) back to OSC/Connexions

  16. Partner Update • Orange Grove,University of Florida Press • Consortium of University Presses • Coordinate on future open textbook development • Develop OER content standards • Presenting at the upcoming Connexions conference

  17. Partner Update • Print partners • Low-cost printing • Revenue sharing (mission support fee) • Handles e-commerce and fulfillment • Consoidated Graphics • High-fidelity printing • Lulu • On-demand, custom printing

  18. Launch Update • Branding CAP as “OpenStaxCollege” • Launch: 2 February 2012 • Launch event: 15 February 2012 at Connexions Conference • OpenStaxCollege.org website unique functionality: • StaxDash • Savings calculator

  19. First 2 Ads • Marketing Campaign designed by Halo Group (NYC) • Ad campaign • Email and social media campaign

  20. The Future

  21. Expanding the OSC Library • Solid progress on first 5 CAP books • First “turn key” OER course solution • Expect significant long-term impact • Expect impact not just in US but worldwide • Potential to disrupt publishing industry • Planning for the next 20 CCAP books • Aim to reach as many students as possible • Help colleges address the large pain point of developmental courses • Enable colleges to leverage their resources in other ways

  22. Discussion • This investment in 5 open textbooks has potential to reach a market of 1.8M students • Strategy for the next 20 books • Reach the largest possible number of students to achieve the greatest impact (by investing in core course markets with the largest enrollments)? • Invest in particular tracks based on enrollments, student demographics, etc.? • Invest in remedial courses, a challenge for college administrators? (2.2M students take remedial math and 600K more take remedial English, creating a large resource drain)?

  23. Top 20 College Courses (1/2)

  24. Top 20 College Courses (1/2)

  25. Connexions Conference • February 14 Consortium Meeting • Funders and collaborators dinner • February 15 Main Conference • OpenStaxCollegelaunch • OpenStaxCollegecentered sessions • February 16-17 Connexions Sprints • Update Collaborative Statistics for OpenStaxCollege • Grade 10 Life Science book from Siyavula (South Africa) • Coding sprint conference.cnx.org

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