One of the biggest challenges instructors face when they want to adopt “open resources” is knowing where to start. Here we've outlined 10 minute steps spread over 7 days that can help you get started.
Day 1. Read the rest of this blog post, and identify when you will have time on each of the next 6 days. For example, commit the 10 minutes right after you get back to your desk from lunch on each day.
Day 2. Download one free textbook, and identify 2 sections from the book's table of contents that overlap with your class. Here are links to a few of the many available free textbooks: OpenIntro Statistics, Collaborative Statistics, and many others.
Day 3. Briefly skim each of the two sections you identified on Day 2, spending just 5 minutes on each.
Day 4. Pleased with the sections you reviewed? Email your current students a link to the free textbook, or tell them about it in class. Not keen on the book's explanations, style, or other characteristics? Contact us and briefly explain why. Your comments are useful for helping these resources improve.
Day 5. Watch the video about free OpenIntro course software (see the gray banner on openintro.org). The video is 13 minutes, so feel free to cut it short to stay under your 10 minute quota.
Day 6. Register as a teacher on openintro.org (formal verification optional) and create a course with your new account. This process should take no more than 10 minutes. We send emails every 1-2 months to keep instructors up-to-date on OpenIntro and other open resources, but you can opt out anytime.
Day 7. Browse other resources available on the Textbook page. We think you'll like what you see, and we hope you continue exploring and using these resources. You can always contact us if you want more information. We are also happy to set up phone calls with teachers who interested in learning more about OpenIntro and other open resource projects.
Congratulations, you already completed Day 1!