Software Programs, Formats, and Platforms

There are many resources or programs you can use to help build OER for your course. What tools you will use to create your version of the textbook will depend greatly on what format you find the original textbook in and what you feel comfortable working with. We will briefly look at the different aspects of the most common resources used to build OER.

PDFs (from Word or Google Docs)

Content created in Word or Google Docs can be saved as a PDF. It is common for open textbooks to be available as PDF documents as they are easy to redistribute. However, PDF documents are not easily editable. If you want to modify an open textbook that is only available in PDF, you will need to convert the PDF into a document file and use the "clear text formatting" feature.

The “Clear formatting” feature in Word and Google Docs allows you to remove all formatting applied to the original text in a document, including font style, color, height, highlight, or bold, italic, or underlined text. This will enable you to copy/paste passages from multiples sources and apply your own uniform formatting.

Converting a PDF document to an editable format is a difficult, time-consuming, and imprecise process. Before you consider converting a PDF version of the textbook, you can contact the original author to ask for a copy of the textbook in a document file.

Note that for this reason, it is generally not a good idea to create OER as a PDF if you want your materials to be adaptable by others.

Pressbooks

Pressbooks allows users to create professional online books. If you are comfortable using Canvas, or have perhaps created a blog, then you will like using Pressbooks.

Benefits

Produces professional-looking ebooks.
The one-time fee for instructors to build content (California Digital Library can cover the cost).
Generates downloads in various formats (two main e-reader formats, online, and printable PDF).
Used for OER publishing at many top universities.
Embedding video or audio links will transfer correctly to non-web/PDF formats.
Visual placeholders for multimedia content are available.

Challenges

Requires familiarity with using Rich Text Editors (similar to creating Pages in Canvas).

See an example of content created in PressBooks

LibreTexts

LibreTexts allows authors to easily combine pages from any OER textbook available in its repository. LibreTexts currently offers a library of hundreds of OER. Authors who find OER not available in the LibreTexts library can request that these resources be added.

Benefits

LibreTexts offers an extensive library of books to draw from for curation.
Authors can easily add individual chapters or pages from existing OER and edit individual pages.
Download formats include print options, PDF, Canvas Cartridge, and others.
LibreTexts offers interactive features, including 3D visualizations, multimedia, coding activities, and other embedded learning activities.
The platform is free for both instructors and students.

Challenges

LibreTexts has a somewhat steeper learning curve than using PressBooks

See an example of content created in LibreTexts

Open Author (by OER Commons)

OER Commons is one of the largest repositories for OER, and they make an authoring tool available for free use. Open Author allows you to write directly in a simple interface or import your own documents. One of its best features is the Accessibility Checker, that will review your content and alert you to opportunities to make it more accessible.

See an example of content created in Open Author

Attributions

Adapted from 6 Steps to modifying an Open Textbook, BCcampus, OpenEd Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License