Faculty Showcase: Mathematics and Statistics
Learn how faculty are adopting free and open etextbooks in their courses. The faculty describe the etextbook they are using, the course they are teaching – sharing their syllabus and teaching strategies, and how they have adopted and integrated the free and open etextbook into their course. Many faculty describe their students' responses to using the etextbook as well.
William Pierpoint from California State University, Channel Islands
eTextbook: College Algebra by Stitz Zeager Open Source Mathematics
Course Description:
The course is offered for non-math majors. It may be used to satisfy Mathematics Concentrations requirements for Liberal Studies students. It is not designed to satisfy the University Writing or Language requirements and is not a General Education course. Topics include: basic set theory, number systems and their algebraic properties; systems of equations and inequalities; basic analytic geometry, matrix algebra and elementary functions; and problem solving.
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"In searching the web for free college algebra textbooks, one of my searches came up with the Stitz and Zeager College Algebra textbook. I found they covered the same material as the expensive textbooks. They used a "functions first" approach that I liked since many of my students would be using functions in spreadsheets during their careers in business and education. I also liked that if students wanted to get a printed copy of textbook, they could purchase a copy for less than $20."
Roy Shahbazian from Santa Ana College, CA
eTextbook: Precalculus: An Investigation of Functions by David Lippman and Melonie Rasmussen, Pierce Community College
Course Description:
Advanced algebraic topics. Study of rational, trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic functions, and analytic geometry. Preparation for Mathematics 180 (Calculus). Most students taking Precalculus are science or engineering majors.
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"Getting departmental permission to use a textbook different from the department norm was challenging. Gradually more faculty have started to use it. We are now in the process of forming a committee to consider a more formal recommendation for other faculty who teach the course."
Larry Green from Lake Tahoe Community College, CA
eTextbook: Introductory Statistics by OpenStax College
Course Description:
This course covers elements of probability, frequency distributions, graphs and measures of central tendency. Functions of random variables, probability distributions, sampling, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, regression analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) will also be covered..
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"Over the years, it had been frustrating to see the students in sticker shock when told that the textbook would cost them $150 each. It is unfair that those in the minority with adequate funds were the only ones who were able to purchase the textbook while the rest attempted to "get by" without it. When I heard about the OER option I spoke with one of the authors, Dr. Barbara Illowsky, and some of the other early adopters to realize that students can learn just as well without having to spend large sums of money. "
Barbara Illowsky from De Anza College, CA
eTextbook: Introductory Statistics by OpenStax College
Course Description:
The course introduces the student to applications in engineering, business, economics, medicine, education, the sciences, and those pertaining to issues of contemporary interest. It covers the introduction to data analysis making use of graphical and numerical techniques to study patterns. Emphasis is on understanding variation, collecting information in the face of uncertainty, checking distributional assumptions, testing hypotheses, using probability as a tool for anticipating what the distribution of data may look like under a set of assumptions, and using appropriate statistical models to draw conclusions.
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"My suggestions for faculty who are just getting started is to search for existing OER before developing your own. There are great resources already available. You might need to supplement with minimal original development."
Irene Duranczyk from the University of Minnesota, MN
eTextbook: Introductory Statistics by OpenStax College
Course Description:
This project-based course is an introduction to statistics that emphasizes problem solving and decision making through the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data. Course topics include the organization and presentation of data, summary statistics, sampling methodology, sampling distributions, probability, estimation, correlation, hypothesis testing, contingency tables, and chi-square analysis. The instructional approach includes the use of small active learning groups, computer statistics software, in-depth projects, writing assignments, demonstrations, and a lot of discussion and problem solving based on practical examples.
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"As a team, we took on the challenge of adapting the Collaborative Statistics text to meet our preferred order of topics, rearranged some groupings of topics, and added the technology support that we felt students needed for an exceptional experience."
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