Great news! Pressbooks has been making changes to the interface and functionality based on your feedback. The major release for the BCcampus Open Education Pressbooks instances is scheduled for later this month. Here’s a heads up of the changes that are on the way.
Most of the improvements are under the hood. However, there are a few big changes we would like to call to your attention.
First, a new look and feel is available for the network home page and catalog. The new standalone catalog page is sortable and filterable, for improved discovery.
Pressbooks has also given the webbook a much-needed makeover, with some added functionality. A wider book layout, better scrolling and navigation are just some of the enhancements. We have also updated the Open Textbook theme at BCcampus. A big thanks to Ryerson University for supporting the development of these changes.
The Luther theme will be retiring on the same day as the new release. In their place, Pressbooks is releasing two new themes, McLuhan and Jacobs. These two themes both offer expanded theme options, and both are designed with textbooks in mind. Their development has been generously funded by [ https://www.ecampusontario.ca/ | eCampus Ontario ] . We will be continuing to use the Open Textbooks as our default theme and the theme for the BCcampus open textbook collection.
We are thoroughly testing the updated Pressbooks prior to the release and these improvements should not cause any issues with your existing books. But, if anything does come up, let us know right away at [ mailto:helpdesk@bccampus.ca | helpdesk(a)bccampus.ca ]
Other changes include:
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Save Button: Pressbooks heard your pleas for a clearer way to save your chapters. It’s here! (In the past, the “save” button was named Update, Publish, or other variations based on the status of your post.) Note that when you create a new chapter, front or back matter section, you will first see a “Create” button, but subsequent changes can be saved by clicking on the new “Save” button.
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Contributor Management: Pressbooks added a centralized contributor management tool where you can add contributors who can then be reused throughout your book as authors, editors, translators, reviewers, illustrators, and generic contributors.
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Organize Page Improvements: Pressbooks revamped the Organize page, improving the display on mobile devices, and improving accessibility for keyboard navigation and screen reader users.
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Chapter Importing: Now, you can import individual chapters from public, openly licensed Pressbooks webbooks using the Import tool. All you need to drop is drop in the URL to a book, begin the import process, then select the chapters you wish to add to your book. (Content that is private, All Rights Reserved or that carries any of the Creative Commons Non-Derivative licenses cannot be imported.)
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Content Visibility: Pressbooks has made it more intuitive to manage the visibility of your content across web and exports. Now you can simply designate content visibility in web and exports on both the Organize page and the edit screen for individual front matter, chapters and back matter.
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Import Files from URL: You can now import supported file formats hosted on remote (web based) sources via URL. If you have files hosted elsewhere (with the right permissions), you no longer need to download and upload files, but can import them directly with just the URL.
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Ebook Start Point: Pressbooks has moved the ebook start point setting to the ebook Theme Options page to ensure that only one front matter, chapter, or back matter can be set as the ebook start point. (Note that Pressbooks tries to enforce the ebook start point you select. However, ereader devices may still override the start point you designate.)
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Language Support Changes: Pressbooks has renamed the Language Support section in Theme Options to Language & Script Support to better reflect its functionality; we’ve also re-labelled Hindi support to Devanagari, to clarify that the Devanagari script supports Hindi, Sanskrit, and over 120 other languages.
As always, please let us know if you have any questions or problems navigating the new features. You can contact us at [ mailto:helpdesk@bccampus.ca | helpdesk(a)bccampus.ca ]
Want to see how it looks?
Our team put together a [ https://youtu.be/rBJ7pU-xddE | screencast ] of the new interface and the changes that you will see when the release happens mid March.
[ https://youtu.be/rBJ7pU-xddE | https://youtu.be/rBJ7pU-xddE ]
Stay up to date
Interested in staying in the know on Pressbooks updates?
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Check [ https://open.bccampus.ca/pressbooks-updates/ | https://open.bccampus.ca/pressbooks-updates/ ]
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Attend one of the webinars we will be hosting reviewing the changes to the Pressbooks UI-
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Friday, March 9 from 10-11 am
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Tuesday March 13 from 10-11 am
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Thursday March 15 from 10-11 am
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Friday March 16 from 10-11 am
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Make sure to stay updated via our [ https://bccampus.ca/bccampus-news/ | Blog ] and on [ https://twitter.com/bccampus | Twitter ]
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Sign up for the [ https://confirmsubscription.com/h/d/97F887551C7932F2 | BCcampus Newsletter ]
Regards,
Lauri Aesoph, on behalf of the BCcampus Open Education team
Lauri Aesoph, Manager, Open Education
BC campus | connect.collaborate.innovat e .
250-893-0258 | laesoph(a)bccampus.ca | Skype lauri.aesoph
120-645 Fort Street | Coast & Straits Salish Territory | Victoria, BC | V8W1G2
[ https://mail.bccampus.ca/zimbra/bccampus.ca | BCcampus.ca ] | @BCcampus | #BCcampus
Sign up for [ https://bccampus.ca/bccampus-around-the-web/ | BCcampus news ]
Hi everyone,
And this webinar also sounds really interesting – especially for us to learn about ZCred degrees and what other institutions are doing.
As they say, you don’t have to attend the entire webinar… but consider attending for an hour or so.
Cheers,
Rosario
[image002] Rosario Passos,
Instructional Development Consultant
Learning and Teaching Centre, BCIT
www.bcit.ca/ltc<../../../../../../All_Work_Data/www.bcit.ca/ltc>
3700 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 3H2
Tel: (604) 456 1266
[Tagline]
Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail
From: cccoer-advisory(a)googlegroups.com [mailto:cccoer-advisory@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Liz Yata
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2018 6:20 AM
To: cccoer-advisory(a)googlegroups.com <cccoer-advisory(a)googlegroups.com> <cccoer-advisory(a)googlegroups.com>
Subject: Ten OER Degree and Adoption Showcases next Wednesday!
Dear CCCOER Community,
Next week is Open Education Week! To celebrate, CCCOER is hosting an OER Adoption showcase next Wednesday. We will hear from ten different community colleges from seven states who have developed OER Degree or OER Adoption Programs that have significantly impacted their students access to instructional materials and given faculty the freedom to customize their instructional materials to better meet the needs of their students.
When: Wednesday, March 7th 12 pm EST – 5 pm EST
Where: Online
registration link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/749dc345d1d68a867c24e00bf0acd2b8
You do not have to attend the entire webinar! However, we only have one registration link, so please register for the entire webinar and use the link in the confirmation email to join us for as many or as few sections as you want. See the schedule below and at https://www.cccoer.org/webinar/oeweek-ten-oer-degree-and-adoption-showcases…
This webinar will be recorded and posted on our website afterward. Let me know if you have any questions.
Regards,
Liz
~~~~~~~
Liz Yata
CCCOER Support Specialist
Open Education Consortium
lizyata(a)oeconsortium.org<mailto:lizyata@oeconsortium.org>
12:00 PM ET
Pima Community College
Pima Community College is an Achieving the Dream OER Degree grantee who has developed an entire OER pathway for their students.
12:30 PM ET
Houston Community College
Houston Community College is developing a Zero-Cost degree program to expand access to education for their students.
1:00 PM ET
Tidewater Community College
Tidewater Community College was the first college to develop a “Z-Degree” in business starting in 2013 and became an Achieving the Dream OER Degree grantee.
1:30 PM ET
Maricopa Millions
Maricopa Millions is the 5-year program launched by the Maricopa Community Colleges to save students $5 Million in 5 years. Completing its fifth year this spring, it has saved students more than double that amount by encouraging faculty adoption of OER.
2:00 PM ET
Salt Lake Community College (Open SLCC)
Salt Lake Community College has been working on OER adoption since 2014 to provide students a cost-effective alternative to traditional textbooks. Their goal of saving students $5 million in five years will be achieved in 2018.
2:30 PM ET
Lansing Community College
Lansing Community College launched their first OER Initiative in 2015. Lead by their library, they have received funding this fall to engage faculty in OER development.
3:00 PM ET
Austin Community College
Austin Community College is the lead college for Achieving the Dream’s OER Degree Texas Consortium. They have developed an entire OER degree pathway for their students.
3:30 PM ET
Central Virginia Community College
Central Virginia Community College is a member college of Achieving the Dream’s OER Degree Virginia Consortium. They are developing multiple OER degree pathways to better serve their underrepresented students.
4:00 PM ET
California Zero-Textbook-Cost Degree
The California Zero Textbook Cost Degree is funding 23 colleges to develop zero-textbook-cost degrees to expand access to instructional materials for students.
4:30 PM ET
Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is developing an OER Degree for transfer to expand access to instructional materials and improve learning outcomes for students.
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Hi all,
This webinar may be of interest to students and faculty alike. If you have some time tomorrow, try participating. ☺
Cheers,
Rosario
[image002] Rosario Passos,
Instructional Development Consultant
Learning and Teaching Centre, BCIT
www.bcit.ca/ltc<../../../../../../All_Work_Data/www.bcit.ca/ltc>
3700 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 3H2
Tel: (604) 456 1266
[Tagline]
Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail
From: cccoer-advisory(a)googlegroups.com [mailto:cccoer-advisory@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Amy Hofer
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2018 11:22 AM
To: Open Oregon <openoregon(a)googlegroups.com>; (occdla(a)lists.chemeketa.edu), 'occdla(a)lists.chemeketa.edu' <occdla(a)lists.chemeketa.edu>; orahead(a)googlegroups.com; Oregon Community College Library Association <occladir(a)lists.chemeketa.edu>; openwa-request(a)lists.ctc.edu; SPARC Libraries & OER Forum <liboer(a)sparcopen.org>; CCCOER Advisory <cccoer-advisory(a)googlegroups.com>; Open Textbook Network <open-textbook-network(a)googlegroups.com>
Subject: Webinar tomorrow! Textbook Affordability: Student Perspectives and Advocacy
Textbook Affordability: Student Perspectives and Advocacy
http://openoregon.org/events/event/textbook-affordability-student-perspecti…
March 1, 12-1 Pacific. The session will be recorded and captioned to share later.
Join the session: https://linnbenton.zoom.us/j/507784677
Call-in number: 646 876 9923
Participant PIN: 507 784 677
The high cost of textbooks is a major obstacle for college students pursuing their educational goals. Students have to make impossible choices – between textbooks and food, between expensive materials and poor grades – while the publishing market generates huge profits at students’ expense.
Oregon’s colleges have made progress on lowering the cost of course materials, thanks in part to strong advocacy from student groups. In this webinar, some of our student activists will talk about strategies that they have pursued to promote affordable textbooks on their campuses. Other student leaders will come away with new ideas they can use to advocate for lowering costs at their own schools.
--
Amy Hofer
Coordinator, Statewide Open Education Library Services
openoregon.org<http://openoregon.org>
510-213-0702
Linn-Benton Community College
6500 SW Pacific Blvd.
Albany, OR 97321
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Hi everyone,
Have a look at the article Trade Up in the last issue of the LINK<https://www.bcitsa.ca/linkmagazine/> - a student perspective about one of the OER Grant projects that the Learning and Teaching Centre and the Library at BCIT are able to support with the generous contribution from BCcampus, aimed at fostering Open Education initiatives in teaching and learning in HE in BC.
Note the section What is Open Education? where Emily says:
"That's the beauty of Open Education; once the information has been gathered, the freedom of access that forms the basic principle of Open Education allows for the knowledge to be shared."
I couldn't have said it better myself. Can't wait to see the finished product in April!
Cheers,
Rosario
[image002] Rosario Passos,
Instructional Development Consultant
Learning and Teaching Centre, BCIT
www.bcit.ca/ltc<../../../../../../All_Work_Data/www.bcit.ca/ltc>
3700 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 3H2
Tel: (604) 456 1266
[Tagline]
Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail
Hello Everyone,
BCcampus Open Education has extended the deadline for the Open Education Research and Advocacy Fellowship to February 22!
This opportunity is for open to faculty in British Columbia. For more information, please see: https://open.bccampus.ca/call-for-proposals/faculty-fellows/
Regards,
The BCcampus Open Education team
Lauri Aesoph, Manager, Open Education
BC campus | connect.collaborate.innovat e .
250-893-0258 | laesoph(a)bccampus.ca | Skype lauri.aesoph
120-645 Fort Street | Coast & Straits Salish Territory | Victoria, BC | V8W1G2
[ https://mail.bccampus.ca/zimbra/bccampus.ca | BCcampus.ca ] | @BCcampus | #BCcampus
Sign up for [ https://bccampus.ca/bccampus-around-the-web/ | BCcampus news ]
Please join us for the following FREE events to support Open Education Week! Open Education Week’s goal is to raise awareness about free and open educational opportunities that exist for everyone, everywhere, right now. We want to highlight how open education can help people meet their goals in education, whether that’s to develop skills and knowledge for work, supporting formal studies, learning something new for personal interest, or looking for additional teaching resources. [ http://www.openeducationweek.org/ | Open Education Week ] is taking place March 5-9th. [ https://bccampus.ca/ | BCcampus ] is supporting these activities through co-ordination, sponsorship, or co-promotion. These offerings are a rich combination of online and onsite events to help you learn more and celebrate Open Education Week 2018!
We are hosting/sponsoring events in Vancouver, Richmond, and Victoria.
Please join us for the following events. Details on each event can be found on the [ https://open.bccampus.ca/open-education-week-events-calling-lower-mainland-… | BCcampus Open Education Site ] . UnCommon Women Panel
Date: Monday, March 5
Time: 5:00 pm- 8:00 pm
Location: SFU Harbour Centre, Segal Rooms 1400 & 1410
[ http://www.eply.com/OpenEdWeekUnCommonWomen18 | Free Registration ]
Open Education Week: Open in Action
Date: Tuesday March 6
Time: 8:30 am- 2:00 pm
Location: [ https://www.google.com/maps?q=8771+Lansdowne+Rd,+Richmond+BC&spn=0.015259,0… | Richmond Campus, KPU Melville Centre for Dialogue ]
[ http://www.eply.com/OpenEdWeekOpeninActionKPU18 | Free Registration ]
Open Education Week: Open in Action
Date: Thursday March 8
Time: 9:30 am- 3:00pm
Location: [ http://camosun.ca/about/documents/iu_map.pdf | Babcock Canada Interaction Lab in the Jack White Building (#13 on Map) @ Interurban campus, Camosun College ]
[ http://www.eply.com/OpenEdWeekOpeninActionCamosun18 | Free Registration ]
If you have questions please contact opentext(a)bccampus.ca
Thank you!
Amanda Coolidge
--
Amanda Coolidge, MEd
Senior Manager of Open Education
BC campus | connect.collaborate.innovate.
[ callto:250-580-6949 | 250-8 ] 18-4592 | [ mailto:acoolidge@bccampus.ca | acoolidge(a)bccampus.ca ]
120-645 Fort Street | Coast and Straits Salish Territory | Victoria, B.C. | V8W1G2
[ http://bccampus.ca/ | BCcampus.ca ] | @BCcampus | #BCcampus
Sign up for [ http://bccampus.ca/bccampus-around-the-web/ | BCcampus news ]
Hi Everyone,
Please see below for a couple of news items from BCcampus.
Open Education Advocacy and Research Fellowship - for 2018
BCcampus Open Education is taking applications for 2018 Open Education Advocacy and Research Fellowships. Post-secondary faculty in British Columbia are eligible to apply for one of three 1-year positions. Successful candidates will help raise awareness of open educational practices through advocacy and will conduct, present, and publish research on open educational practices at B.C. institutions.
For more information and to apply see [ https://open.bccampus.ca/call-for-proposals/faculty-fellows/ | information posted on the BCcampus OpenEd website ] .
Designing Open Resources, Strategies, and Approaches
Date: February 27th, 12 :00 - 1:00 pm
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Location: Collaborate Virtual Room
Students are advocates and supporters of open education, creating, adapting and sharing resources, using open technologies and getting involved in projects to build awareness among their peers. In this webinar, we will be bringing together students from across the BC Post Secondary System who are supporting open education projects and together we’ll explore what we can learn as contributors to these projects. We’ll also explore varied practices and approaches for creating well-designed, accessible and open content.
By attending this webinar you will learn and discuss:
* How students in BC are supporting Open Education projects.
* How open education supports learning
* Ways of designing and developing content using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) that is accessible and focused on the user experiences.
* Approaches to making content open, findable and re-usable.
Join Cindy Underhill Strategist, Learning Resource Design at the University of British Columbia Lucas Wright Open Education Advisor at BCcampus, and Josie Gray Open Resource Production Tuesday, February 27th, 12 :00 - 1:00 pm
Please r [ https://www.eply.com/DesigningOpenResources18 | egister using this link ] .
Regards,
Lauri and the Open Education team
Lauri Aesoph, Manager, Open Education
BC campus | connect.collaborate.innovat e .
250-893-0258 | laesoph(a)bccampus.ca | Skype lauri.aesoph
120-645 Fort Street | Coast & Straits Salish Territory | Victoria, BC | V8W1G2
[ https://mail.bccampus.ca/zimbra/bccampus.ca | BCcampus.ca ] | @BCcampus | #BCcampus
Sign up for [ https://bccampus.ca/bccampus-around-the-web/ | BCcampus news ]
Hi everyone,
Interesting data to comb through in this report:
Opening the Textbook: Educational Resources in U.S. Higher Education, 2017<https://www.onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/oer2017/2017Opening%20the%20Te…>
Cheers,
Rosario
[image002] Rosario Passos,
Instructional Development Consultant
Learning and Teaching Centre, BCIT
www.bcit.ca/ltc<../../../../../../All_Work_Data/www.bcit.ca/ltc>
3700 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 3H2
Tel: (604) 456 1266
[Tagline]
Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail
Hi everyone,
The August volume of IRRODL includes this great article about research done with students about their perceptions of the OpenStax textbooks. Really interesting read:
Student and Faculty Perceptions of OpenStax in High Enrollment Courses<http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/2462/4299>
I particularly enjoyed reading about Faculty's experiences:
"The faculty participants used the new text as an opportunity to rethink how they organized the content for their students."
and
"Faculty found the flexibility of the OpenStax textbook very useful. Their ability to link directly to content they planned to use and to add additional content using the learning management system contributed to their overall level of satisfaction with the content and associated tools."
As much as I am a proponent of Open Textbooks, I am not a solid proponent of the textbook (in the format that has been in place over the last few decades) to be a driver of open educational practice. So seeing that faculty is using the open textbook to adapt their teaching practice makes me have hope!
Cheers,
Rosario
[image002] Rosario Passos,
Instructional Development Consultant
Learning and Teaching Centre, BCIT
www.bcit.ca/ltc<../../../../../../All_Work_Data/www.bcit.ca/ltc>
3700 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 3H2
Tel: (604) 456 1266
[Tagline]
Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail
