CCCOER/Moodle/COT Self Paced Course

Open Textbooks Self-Paced Course
(hosted on http://cccmoodle.org/)

Module 8
Open Textbook Questions - A Culminating Webquest


 * If you wih (sic) to be a Fan of Open Textbooks, it is good to have a good working knowledge of the facts related to open textbooks, COT, and CCCOER. Many times, people will ask questions we haven't predicted or covered in this online course. It will be up to you to gather enough background information to be able to handle these questions that come out of left field.


 * don't like the tone of this para - instead of talking smugly to folks, or down to them, invite them to pool their questions into a growing body of knowledge - because it is unlikely that CCCOER course developers can anticipate every situation.

Culminating Activity
 * should reference that it is a questionnaire.

Questionnaire Form
 * indicate how many questions, and the estimated time to completion.

Questions
11. A fulltime college student in the USA will spend about __ on textbooks annually?


 * Answer seems obvious to me - up the amounts

14. For what reason should a faculty member who cannot find an open textbook for his/her classes advocate open textbooks?


 * Awkward wording. If a faculty member cannot find an open textbook for his/her classes, what might be the reason (or rationale)?

Note from Jacky - This rewording changes the meaning of the question -- it sounds like it is asking why s/he could not find a textbook, not why s/he might still be willing to advocate.

15. What are reasons that a peer instructor might object to a faculty member choosing an open textbook? (Check all that apply)


 * same as Q14. Awkward phrasing. Passive sentence..

Note from Jacky - Here is a suggested non-passive alternative but I do not like it as well as the original: "A peer instructor objects to a faculty instructor choosing an open textbook. Check all the possible reasons."

22. The Global Text Project originated in the University of _____________


 * ...originated at - at, better than in.

Note from Jacky - OK -- even better would be 'is sponsored by' or 'is hosted by'.

25. How many contact names are requested on the CCCOER Voluntary Membership Agreement?


 * Awkward wording. Better - On CCCOER's Voluntary Membership Agreement, how many contact names are required?

Note from Jacky - I agree with the rearrangement of the question but not with changing 'requested' to 'required'. Also, this agreement is going away so the question needs to reflect the new agreement.

26. What online networking tool is used for the Advocate/Trainer program? change "online" to "social", as in 'social networking tool'. Note from Jacky - The A/T Ning is not a social networking tool; it is a professional networking tool and it is online.

28. Approximately how many tasks must an Advocate Trainer perform?


 * Why is this question required; what value is it adding? - to me, it seems counterproductive and potentially demotivating - when folks see how much 'work' it takes.
 * Note from Jacky - This question was designed to get the potential A/Ts to find and read the list of tasks. It was good if they see that they have to do a lot of work for their $1500 -- some of them tried to do as little as possible. Too many saw it as only 'give a workshop'; one even tried to get out of that. Many tried to get by without blogging about their workshops. Good if this demotivated the lazy ones so that they did not sign up. (The vast majority did all 10 items and some did much, much more.) This question is obsolete; there is no longer an A/T program.

29. What would be the best way to attract a large number of people into an open textbook workshop?


 * seems to me there are several questions bundled here. Q29 is really focused on the timing of a workshop. However, there are other variables and information pieces that could be surveyed. Note from Jacky -- yes, there could be more questions about things other than timing; we started with 55 questions and cut back to 50. (I was pushing to get 100.) Even with 'only' 50, very few people actually answered them.

30. Instructors' number one concern about open textbooks is


 * Awkward phrasing, passive sentence:

Better: The number one (#1) concern in using open textbooks is: Note from Jacky - the reworded question is more passive than the original and it does not say whose concern. The concerns of students, bookstore managers, peer instructors, other textbook publishers, etc., are not the same as the concerns of the instructors.

31. What would be the most likely amount of time to spend discovering and selecting an open textbook


 * Awkward phrasing, passive sentence. Better: How much time is typically required to discover and select an open textbook?

Note from Jacky -- The purpose of this question is to get the person to think about the tasks involved and how long they would take. The reworded question implies that statistics exist about typical times.

32. What would be the most likely amount of time to spend adopting and preparing to use an open textbook prior to the start of the term?


 * Awkward phrasing, passive sentence.

Better: How much time is typically required for adopting and preparing for open textook use?

Note from Jacky -- Same as for Q31: The purpose of this question is to get the person to think about the tasks involved and how long they would take. The reworded question implies that statistics exist about typical times.

Note: 'start of the term' doesn't add anything - only confuses - because folks skill have to prepare.

Note from Jacky -- I am assuming that 'skill' is supposed to be 'still'. The preparation time has to be prior to the beginning of the term; it cannot overlap the term so 'start of the term' is critical.

33. Students will save less money if the instructor suggests the textbook for


 * Make the sentence active, as in:

If the instructor suggests a textbook for ____________, students will do X


 * I'm confused by the phrase "save less money" - usu. people say "save more money"
 * Note from Jacky -- The question is not passive. Passive would be "Less money is saved by students". Requiring the student to use the textbook in class means that they save less money because they will need to print the book, purchase a bound copy, or acquire a portable computer to use in the classroom. There is no way that this requirement can cause the student to save more money, no matter what people usually say.


 * Jacky - no qualms about the intent of the phrase - it's just the way it's worded that makes it a bit hard to get IMHO - Randy Fisher 16:18, 20 November 2010 (UTC)


 * Note from Jacky: The reworded question is asking for two answers, one for the blank and one for X.

37. A class has some students using the textbook online, others printing it, and others ordering bound copies. The instructor should be concerned about

Better: Situation / Context: A class has some students using the textbook online, others printing it, and others ordering bound copies. The instructor should be concerned about Note from Jacky - The suggested question is identical to the original. Is the suggestion to add the words "Situation/Context"? If so, I think this would add confusion, not improve the question.

38. A major benefit to the instructor of open textbooks is


 * Awkward phrasing - and subject is misplaced.

Better: For instructors, a major benefit in using open textbooks is:

Note from Jacky - agree

39. Transferability of college credit is also called

Better: The transferability of college credit is also called.

43. In order to be accessible, sound on slide shows and videos should be

Better: To meet accessibility guidelines (or requirements), audio/sound for slide shows should be:

Note from Jacky - OK -- add 'some' to accessibility guidelines -- as there are many unrelated guidelines.

44. A verbal description of images is useful not only for text-to-speech but also for

Better: A verbal description of images is useful for text-to-speech AND __________

Note from Jacky -- 'not only...but also' is standard usage and upper case is like shouting.

Followup

 * Frequently Asked Questions
 * F.A.Q.'s about Open Textbooks file

Questions & Answers
The answers here quite conversational, and need to be more direct, to the point. Also make use of bullets, to separate content and create website.

One You've Completed the entire "Follow Up" topic - Click Below
 * '''I Have Completed the "Follow Up" Topic Quiz

Top-level, and intro into the quiz - an estimate of how long it will take to complete, and the number of questions

1. The picture - of the fellow with the magnifying glass while cute, is quite off-putting.

Please check "yes" once you've completed all the readings and activities for this topic. If you are not yet finished, leave your answer blank and use your browser's back button to go back to the topic.


 * What does "this topic" refer to? There are many topics in the course, or is it the general topic of Open Textbooks? Need clarity here
 * Use completed vs. finished

OK, now I see it - it's about completing this particular topic - it seems like overkill to me to have this quiz portion. Also, there could be some notification in the preamble, that this is what the quiz will be asking for.

Module 10: Resources and Glossary

 * Open Textbooks Glossary
 * References to useful sites


 * Please include WikiEducator - http://www.wikieducator.org