Making the First Day of Class a Little Easier with OER

Starting a new semester comes with plenty of questions. Where is my classroom? What assignments are due? How will I balance school, work and everything else on my plate? 

Then there is the textbook. 

A required textbook can add another expense to an already demanding college experience. UTA Libraries is working with faculty members to help take some of that pressure off students by supporting the creation of free, open textbooks that give students access to the materials they need from day one. 

Through programs such as the UTA CARES Grant, UTA Libraries partners with faculty to turn their knowledge and classroom experience into open educational resources. The partnership benefits students while providing faculty with the support and expertise to create resources that reach well beyond their own classrooms. 

A Textbook Built for the Classroom 

Dr. Chenxi Wang, Assistant Professor of Instruction, and Dr. Muhammad Rashed, Assistant Professor, both in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, recently partnered with UTA Libraries to create “Computer Organization and Assembly Language Programming,” a free, open textbook for CSE 2312, Computer Organization and Assembly Language. 

The course is a core requirement for computer science and computer engineering students, with roughly 300 students enrolling each semester. 

The idea came from a simple problem. The commercial textbooks available for the course were not designed specifically for CSE 2312. Some of the material covered was beyond the scope of the class, making an already challenging subject even more difficult for students who were still building their programming experience. 

"We wanted to make an open resource for them so that they don’t have to buy a book," Rashed said. 

The result is a 16 chapter textbook that takes students from number systems and CPU basics to writing assembly programs using a Raspberry Pi. Students can access the book for free through UTA Libraries’ MavMatrix platform. That can mean one less expense to worry about and one less barrier between a student and the material they need to succeed. 

Turning an Idea Into Something Real 

Creating a textbook from scratch took time. Wang and Rashed spent about a year and a half writing and revising the book while continuing to teach their courses. 

Both teach CSE 2312 in different sections, allowing them to bring their classroom experiences together as they developed the resource. 

"It was helpful to brainstorm together on what content to put in the book and how to make it flow more easily for all the students," Rashed said. 

Student feedback also helped shape the final resource. A preliminary version was piloted during the spring semester, where students responded overwhelmingly positively to having a free textbook designed specifically for their course. 

The project also allowed the faculty members to learn from the Libraries. 

"I would highlight the library’s focus on making things accessible for everyone," Rashed said. "That part I did not have much experience with before." 

A Partnership Built Around Faculty and Students 

UTA Libraries supported the project through the UTA CARES Grant and guided them throughout the publishing process. Staff helped Wang and Rashed navigate licensing, accessibility, ISBNs, and other aspects of open publishing. 

"The UTA CARES Grant program, sponsored by UTA Libraries, funded the creation of the book," Wang said. "That support is what turned a Sunday idea into a real project with a real timeline." 

Daria Mendez, Lead Library Specialist in Research, Data, and Publishing Partnerships, worked with the faculty members throughout the publishing process. She said their enthusiasm for the project was clear from the beginning. 

"They were both eager to see their book published, as they both have spent so much time perfecting it and planned to use the resource during the fall semester in CSE 2312," Mendez said. “Their attention to detail and dedication to creating a polished resource really stood out to me.” 

That collaboration brings together two areas of expertise. Faculty members understand their subjects and their students. UTA Libraries provide expertise in publishing, accessibility, and open scholarship. 

Together, they can create resources that make learning more accessible. 

An Impact That Goes Beyond the Classroom 

The previous textbook for CSE 2312 cost more than $30. With hundreds of students taking the course each semester, those costs added up. Wang estimated the open textbook could save students nearly $10,000 each semester. The benefits do not stop with cost savings. 

Wang and Rashed plan to continue updating the book based on student feedback and changes in the field. Because it is openly licensed, other instructors can also adopt, adapt, or build upon the resource. 

Mendez sees that broader reach as one of the greatest strengths of open educational resources. 

"More than anything, I believe this resource will be incredibly impactful, not only to our Maverick community but to a much wider audience as well," Mendez said. 

What began as a need in a UTA classroom can now help students far beyond campus. 

That is what makes the partnership between UTA faculty and Libraries so meaningful. Faculty bring their expertise and ideas; the Libraries help turn those ideas into accessible resources; and students get the support they need without another textbook cost standing in their way. 

Faculty interested in finding OER or learning more about the CARES Grant can schedule an OER consultation with the Libraries.