OpenStax expands free, peer-reviewed textbook offering
OpenStax is partnering with panOpen to offer interactive, enhanced versions of textbooks in a bid to reduce costs and “improve access to resources.” Covering a wide range of subjects, from US history and microeconomics, to biology and psychology, teachers will be able to edit and “remix” content for free, while students pay a single flat fee - usually at least 75% less than the traditional textbook. David Harris, editor-in-chief at OpenStax said in a statement: “Our titles reached nearly 400,000 students this academic year at 1,800 institutions and we're excited to provide access to even more students in the coming year through our partnership with panOpen."

Open Educational Resources

OpenStax Partners with panOpen to Expand OER Access

OpenStax's free, peer-reviewed textbooks will now be available through the panOpen platform. A new partnership between the Rice University-based OpenStax initiative and the open educational resources (OER) company aims to reduce textbook costs and improve access to high-quality, open resources, according to a press release.

As part of the agreement, panOpen will offer enhanced interactive versions of OpenStax textbooks for courses such as U.S. History, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Anatomy and Physiology, Concepts of Biology, Introduction to Sociology 2e, and Psychology, with other subject areas in development. The platform allows faculty to edit, remix and contribute content at no cost; students are charged a flat fee per course for perpetual access (at a 75 percent or more reduction in cost compared to traditional textbooks). The content can also be freely downloaded, printed and shared.

"OpenStax is proud to offer yet another option for faculty and students to access OpenStax textbooks through our partnership with panOpen," said David Harris, editor-in-chief at OpenStax, noting that the ecosystem around OpenStax resources is growing rapidly. "Our titles reached nearly 400,000 students this academic year at 1,800 institutions and we're excited to provide access to even more students in the coming year through our partnership with panOpen."

For more information about the panOpen-OpenStax partnership, visit the OpenStax site.