Unlikely partners create innovative product for college biology

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Unlikely partners create innovative product for college biology

Wiley to align OpenStax College’s free biology textbook content with
interactive media and assessment in a low-priced, high-value product for students

HOUSTON — (March 11, 2013) — In a sign of continuing evolution in the college textbook market, an unlikely partnership was announced today between Wiley, an industry leader (NYSE:JWa, JWb), and Rice University-based OpenStax College, a newcomer from the “open education resources” (OER) movement. The partnership calls for Wiley to deliver content from OpenStax College’s two new biology textbooks via WileyPLUS with its online learning,  practice and assessment resources that are proven to improve learning outcomes. Pilot tests are slated to begin this fall.

OpenStax College's two new introductory biology textbooks -- for majors and nonmajors -- are scheduled to be available for classes in fall 2013.

“OpenStax College and Wiley are breaking new ground by working together to broaden access and add value to high-quality OER content,” said Joe Heider, senior vice president of Wiley Global Education. “By integrating OpenStax content with WileyPLUS’ practice and assessment resources, this partnership gives students the option of paying a reduced price for a personalized experience that is proven to improve learning outcomes.”

OpenStax College uses philanthropic support to produce high-quality textbooks through a rigorous development and review process. All OpenStax textbooks are available free online. Its first two books, introductory texts for physics and sociology, were adopted by educators at more than 100 schools and downloaded more than 30,000 times in their first six months.

“Producing free, high-quality learning materials is just the first step toward our goal of making college more affordable,” said Richard Baraniuk, founder of OpenStax College and professor of engineering at Rice. “By partnering with an industry-leading educational service provider like Wiley, we will be able to give millions more students access to our books.”

Richard Baraniuk

David Harris, editor in chief of OpenStax College, said, “The WileyPLUS learning tools add value to our new biology textbooks, which were developed for course areas in which Wiley doesn’t already publish. This is an ideal pairing to reduce costs, personalize education and improve learning outcomes.”

WileyPLUS, a research-based online learning environment, is proven to enhance student success. WileyPLUS is already offered with more than 300 Wiley titles and is used in more than 20 countries.

Heider said the new partnership represents Wiley’s continuing evolution as a knowledge company. “Partnerships, like this one with OpenStax College, help us to fulfill our mission of broadening access to education through flexibile and affordable solutions for students.”

OpenStax College’s two new introductory biology textbooks — for majors and nonmajors — are scheduled to be available for classes in fall 2013, and chapters are available online for preview. Wiley and OpenStax College said they will work with colleges and instructors to set up pilot tests of the new textbooks and WileyPLUS resources this fall. This community effort will enhance the effectiveness and usability of the final product. Heider said prices have not been set, but inclusion of the free books will significantly reduce costs to students.

“‘Either/or’ thinking closes the door on innovation,” Harris said. “Through this partnership, OpenStax College and Wiley are proving that collaboration — even among unlikely partners — can yield solutions that benefit students.”

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High-resolution IMAGES are available for download at:
https://news2.rice.edu/files/2013/02/0225-WILEY-OpenStax-lg.jpg
CREDIT: Photos.com/Rice University

https://news2.rice.edu/files/2013/03/0307-OPENSTAX-BioBooks-lg.jpg
CUTLINE: OpenStax College’s two new introductory biology textbooks — for majors and nonmajors — are scheduled to be available for classes in fall 2013.
CREDIT: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University

https://news2.rice.edu/files/2013/03/0307-OPENSTAX-Rich2Bio-lg.jpg
CUTLINE: Richard Baraniuk
CREDIT: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University

This release can be found online at news-network.rice.edu/news and www.wiley.com/go/news.

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OpenStax College
OpenStax College is dedicated to improving access to higher education by lowering the cost of textbooks and high-quality learning materials. It launched in February 2012 with a philanthropic model to offer free, high-quality, peer-reviewed, full-color textbooks for the 25 most heavily attended college courses in the nation. Its books are free online for any student, anywhere, and OpenStax College partners with companies who provide fee-based products and services that enhance the value of OpenStax books for both instructors and students. OpenStax College is a nonprofit initiative of Rice University and is made possible by the generous support of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the 20 Million Minds Foundation and the Maxfield Foundation. For more information, visit http://openstaxcollege.org.

Wiley
Wiley is a global provider of content-enabled solutions that improve outcomes in research, education, and professional practice. Our core businesses produce scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, reference works, books, database services, and advertising; professional books, subscription products, certification and training services and online applications; and education content and services including integrated online teaching and learning resources for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (NYSE: JWa, JWb), has been a valued source of information and understanding for more than 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Wiley and its acquired companies have published the works of more than 450 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, and Peace. Wiley’s global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey, with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia. The Company’s website can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com.

Rice University
Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,708 undergraduates and 2,374 graduate students, Rice’s undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice has been ranked No. 1 for best quality of life multiple times by the Princeton Review and No. 2 for “best value” among private universities by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. To read “What they’re saying about Rice,” go to http://tinyurl.com/AboutRiceU.