by Peggy Cabrera
At SJSU, 1 out of 3 students report not buying a required textbook because they can’t afford it. Textbook costs have risen dramatically in recent years and faculty across the country are fighting back by developing alternatives to expensive textbooks. Become part of the solution. Receive a stipend from Affordable Learning Solutions to develop your own Textbook Alternatives Project (TAP).
TAP provides stipends up to $2,500 for the development of an alternative to a textbook currently used in a SJSU course. Here are some examples:
- An expensive science text is replaced with free online resources from Khan Academy, MERLOTand edX.
- A group of faculty teaching a large GE course develop their own textbook. Given a Creative Commons license, it is provided to students for free or at a minimal cost.
- Faculty use Academic Pub to create course packs tailored to their class and available to students at a very low price.
To create your own solution, go to the TAP website for details on how to apply. Applications are due on Friday, May 17th and projects must be completed by the end of Fall 2013.