From technical problem to open solution
In the autumn of 2023, the English programme faced a challenge. The existing digital learning environment and app for the American English Phonetics course were no longer usable. The hosting service was discontinued and the app no longer worked on Android devices. This also caused problems for students, says Farah: ‘During my first year, many of my classmates were unable to download the app or log in. As a result, we could hardly practise with the audio files at home. The only option was to go to the language lab, but it was often busy.’ To keep the material accessible, Nicole went in search of a sustainable solution. ‘Through Mathilde Reedijk and Monique Schoutsen (Information and Library Services), who were involved in the Open Textbook pilot at the time, we came up with the idea of publishing the course in this way. That's how the ball started rolling.’
Why an open textbook?
An open textbook is an online textbook created by teachers. They are free to use and open to share. For Nicole, the choice of an open textbook was not only practical, but also strategic. A commercial publisher was not an option. The target group was too small, making publication unfeasible. ‘An open textbook offered the perfect solution,’ says Nicole. ‘It is available free of charge, both for students and for the programme itself.’
For students, this means direct and free access to the course material, without the hassle of book lists or additional costs. They can practise anywhere, on a laptop, tablet or smartphone, which makes learning a lot more flexible. Farah also notes: ‘All audio files and assignments that were previously scattered across the language lab and a separate website are now clearly organised in one place. That makes studying much more efficient.’
In addition, the choice contributes to sustainable education. Existing recordings and materials could be reused, so no new content had to be produced. Nicole is very happy about this: ‘That fits perfectly with our vision of future-oriented education. Moreover, this digital format is much more in line with how students learn today.’
A look ahead
Although the open textbook has only recently been introduced, expectations are high. Students can use the material not only during the course, but also afterwards. Farah explains: ‘I can continue to use it to keep my knowledge up to date. That makes it really sustainable in practice.’ Nicole also sees many opportunities for the future. ‘Especially in times of budget cuts, this is a sustainable and accessible way to provide students with good learning materials. I can well imagine that this model would also be interesting for other courses.’ She expects open textbooks to play an increasingly important role in the coming years. They remain available online, are easy to update and fit well into the increasingly digital world of students.
View the book In Introduction to American English Phonetics
View the book A Course of American English Pronunciation
Want to know more about open textbooks?
Visit the Open Education page or contact the openeducation [at] ru.nl (Radboud Open Education) team for advice on developing and sharing your own open educational resources.