Kevin Ahern and Indira Rajagopal, both from the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Oregon State University, described the process of creating an interactive e-textbook in biochemistry while presenting at the Gordon Research Conference on Undergraduate Biology Education Research in the summer of 2015. G2G asked them about their experience writing and publishing and they offer advice to anyone contemplating e-book authorship.

Biochem Text Cover for Blog

“Cover” of Ahern and Rajagopal’s e-book

The term “Open Educational Resources” (OER) was first adopted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2002, at a forum on the impact of open courseware in making higher education more accessible worldwide.  A definition at the OER Commons states that “Open Educational Resources are teaching and learning materials that are freely available online for everyone to use, whether you are an instructor, student or self-learner.”

As faculty at a land-grant university, we have witnessed the effects of the rising cost of higher education as our students struggle to complete college in a timely manner, even as they take on increasing amounts of debt. OERs hold the potential to help ease the burden for students, especially those of modest means.

This is the story of Biochemistry Free and Easy, an OER e-textbook for introductory biochemistry that we have created and distributed worldwide since 2012. We did not originally envision the book as a free e-textbook; initially, we  were writing a simple, introductory text focusing on basic biochemistry, to be published at low cost as a print book by a small start-up publisher. We quickly discovered that the publisher did not have the resources to create a quality publication and the price they wanted to charge was much higher than we had been led to believe. Our discussion of these issues with the managing editor led a termination of our agreement with the company, leaving us with a book with no publisher that still needed figures. Kevin obtained a grant to pay a graphic arts student to create figures for what we  assumed would be a print book.

Then, on January 19, 2012, a new software tool was released that changed everything for us. iBooks Author is an Apple product that allows one to easily create electronic books readable on an iPad or as PDF files for a personal computer. At the same time, Apple created a section of the iBooks marketplace for publishing and distributing iPad (and Macintosh)-based textbooks. Apple normally retains 30% of the book’s cost and leaves the author with 70%, but if authors do not charge for their book, then Apple distributes it cost-free. We realized at once that we could use iBooks Author to create an attractive e-book that could incorporate the advantages of electronic media and distribute it worldwide at no cost, since we did not intend to charge for it.

Anyone who has used other page layout programs will readily be able to create a book with iBooks Author. With it, we could blend figures and text easily via drag and drop and we could also integrate media, such as audio, video, and rotatable 3D models. Working in the evenings over about a two-month span, we completed the layout and uploaded our book to the iBookstore for approval, which came on August 2, 2012. At that point, the iPad version was released, followed shortly later by the PDF version (hosted by our own department). In early 2015, a Kindle version followed.

As of today, over 140,000 copies of the book have been downloaded by students all over the world and demand remains quite strong. Along the way, we learned a good deal about what it takes to make a successful OER e-book:

  1. Successful OER e-books must be accurate, understandable, easy to use/read, and (increasingly) interactive. Some students like to be “told” the relevant information and others like to discover/explore it. A successful book must balance these perspectives.
  2. Figures are a challenge and can be expensive. Graphic arts students can often be hired on campus to save money. All artwork is best created as vector-based figures, since these can be scaled and readily converted to JPEGs or PNGs. There are also many high quality figures available in the public domain (and under Creative Commons licensing, if used appropriately).
  3. iBooks Author is an Apple product. We are unaware of a similar, easy-to-learn tool for making Android tablet-based content. Though PDFs can be read on almost all tablets and personal computers, that format lacks the ability to handle multi-media, which is important in an electronic book. If software to create similar content for other platforms were available this could extend the reach of OER e-books.
  4. Success with an OER book requires that people learn about it. Many faculty are not aware of OERs that may be useful or relevant to their courses. This can limit the use of such resources in college classrooms. Traditional publishers work from the top down, by paying a large sales staff to connect with instructors. Our book has been a bottom-up effort, since students are the ones who discover our books first. Consequently, there have been relatively few adoptions of our book for courses, since most professors only learn of the book after their students show it to them. One very valuable source of free publicity has been YouTube where Kevin has numerous video lectures that are quite popular with students. Each video lists a link to the free textbook and this is the most common way students have found out about the book.
  5. Authors of OER books do not receive financial rewards, at least not directly. We have advanced in our careers (promotions, raises) as a byproduct of the success of our book, but there are no royalties for a free book. On the other hand, there is enormous value to contributing to making education accessible to as many people as possible and that, in fact, has been our primary motivation and source of satisfaction.

We are currently working on another OER book, tentatively titled “Biochemistry Free for All.” It will provide a considerably more advanced coverage of biochemistry than the first one and will be distributed through the OSU Press (free as an e-book and provided at cost for print-on-demand hard copies).

Indira Rajagopal (left) and Kevin Ahern (right)

Indira Rajagopal (left) and Kevin Ahern (right)

Dr. Indira Rajagopal is a Senior Instructor for the Oregon State University  (OSU)  Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics. She received her PhD in Biochemistry from the Indian Institute of Science (Bangalore, India).
Dr. Kevin Ahern is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Oregon State and makes all of his lectures available on YouTube. He received his PhD in Biochemistry and Biophysics from OSU.

 

The views expressed in guest posts are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Genetics Society of America.

, , , ,

Guest posts are contributed by members of our community. The views expressed in guest posts are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily endorsed by the Genetics Society of America. If you'd like to write a guest post, e-mail communications@genetics-gsa.org.

View all posts by Guest Author »

Read more in

  • Thank you, GSA community!

    Thank you for being a member of the Genetics Society of America! As GSA’s current president, I am writing to tell you about Society projects and initiatives that we hope you will find useful in advancing your science and your career. Scientific research is a collaborative and exciting endeavor. Scientific societies like GSA exist to…

  • Collage of 2021 Rosalind Franklin Award recipients

    Where are they now? Rosalind Franklin Young Investigator Award recipients share updates on their research

    Rosalind Franklin Young Investigator Award applications are open–make sure you submit your application or nomination of a colleague by September 30, 2024.

  • University of Minnesota researchers map genome of the last living wild horse species

    The study, published in G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics, is part of larger conservation efforts to save Przewalski’s horse.

  • Congratulations to the Spring 2024 DeLill Nasser Awardees!

    GSA is pleased to announce the recipients of the DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics for Spring 2024! Given twice a year to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, DeLill Nasser Awards support attendance at meetings and laboratory courses. The award is named in honor of DeLill Nasser, a long-time GSA supporter and National Science Foundation…

  • Carolyn Damilola headshot

    Carolyn Damilola: an NFS Rising Scientist on a lifelong quest to learn more

    Carolyn Damilola is an NFS Rising Scientist from Nigeria doing respiratory system research and paving the way for scientists from underrepresented communities through mentorship.

  • Text over a blue background image: Apply for up to $2,000 for your project from the Starter Culture Microgrant Program.

    What does a good microgrant proposal look like?

    Members of the Microgrant Review Committee share their tips for a successful proposal.

  • A blurred image of a human face is shown against a dark background.

    The first piece of the facial recognition puzzle

    New research in GENETICS gives a first peek at the molecular pathway involved in recognizing faces.

  • New Senior Editor Amy MacQueen joins GENETICS

    A new senior editor is joining GENETICS in the Genome Integrity and Transmission section. We’re excited to welcome Amy MacQueen to the editorial team.

  • Close up of an adult zebrafish with blue and white stripes in an aquarium with red lighting.

    Block party on the zebrafish sex chromosome

    Research in G3 identifies a gene regulatory block of the zebrafish genome responsible for overseeing the maternal-to-zygotic-transition.

  • Lemna Minor, the common duckweed

    Unraveling the mysteries of duckweed: epigenetic insights from Spirodela polyrhiza

    Research published in G3 offers insight into the impact of DNA methylation on clonal propagation in asexually reproducing plants.

  • Luciano Marraffini headshot

    A microbiologist’s quest to understand CRISPR in bacterial self-defense

    2024 Genetics Society of America Medal recipient Luciano Marraffini determined how CRISPR-Cas systems destroy genetic targets with precision, paving the way for gene editing technology development.

  • Elaine Ostrander headshot

    Unlocking mysteries of trait and disease heritability in dogs

    2024 Edward Novitski Prize recipient Elaine Ostrander, a pioneer of the domestic dog model, discovered numerous genes affecting dog size, morphology, behavior, and disease susceptibility—many of which have relevance in humans.

  • NSF-funded BIO-LEAPS Grant to Support Culture Change in Genetics

    GSA and collaborators Personal Genetics Education & Dialogue and Reclaiming STEM Institute launch NSF-funded BIO-LEAPS project to support culture change in genetics 

    We are thrilled to announce that the Genetics Society of America (GSA) is collaborating with the Personal Genetics Education & Dialogue (PGED) based in the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, and the Reclaiming STEM Institute (RSI) on a Leading Culture Change Through Professional Societies of Biology (BIO-LEAPS) grant from the U.S. National Science…

  • Daman Saluja: Navigating Science and Policy in India

    In the Paths to Science Policy series, we talk to individuals who have a passion for science policy and are active in advocacy through their various roles and careers. The series aims to inform and guide early career scientists interested in science policy. This series is brought to you by the GSA Early Care­er Scientist…

  • Deborah Andrew headshot

    A fly geneticist’s journey into discovering rules of organ development

    2024 George W. Beadle Award recipient Deborah Andrew discovered new genes and pathways in Drosophila salivary gland organogenesis. Now, her work can help optimize cell secretion in therapeutic applications and fight malaria.

  • Małgorzata Gazda's headshot

    Małgorzata Gazda: How receiving the DeLill Nasser Award helped her land her dream job

    Have you ever experienced an event that changes the course of your life, or in this case, your career? Małgorzata (Gosia) Gazda is Assistant Professor at the University of Montreal and in 2022, she received the DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics, which she used to attend and present at the 2022 Population,…

  • Hongyu Zhao joins GENETICS as new Senior Editor

    A new senior editor is joining GENETICS in the Statistical Genetics and Genomics section. We’re excited to welcome Hongyu Zhao to the editorial team.

  • Julio Molina Pineda at TAGC 2024

    GSA Member Julio Molina Pineda Receives DeLill Nasser Award, Shines at TAGC 2024 

    “At any career stage, the GSA membership is an amazing investment for any genetics professional!” Julio Molina Pineda is a PhD Candidate in Cell and Molecular Biology and a Research Assistant at the University of Arkansas, and a Doctoral Academy Fellow at the Lewis Lab. In 2023, Julio was awarded the DeLill Nasser Award for…

  • Ed Grell at his dissecting microscope using ether to anesthetize his flies.

    In Memoriam: Ellsworth Herman Grell (1932–2023), a pioneer of Drosophila genome engineering and annotation

    Ellsworth (Ed) Grell blessed the Drosophila community through three enduring legacies: as a pioneer of chromosome mechanics, as a primary organizer and synthesizer of genetic knowledge in Drosophila, and as a graceful mentor to those fortunate to have known him personally. Ed grew up in rural Nebraska, completed his undergraduate studies at Iowa State, and…

  • Congratulations to the #Fungal24 Poster Award winners!

    We are pleased to announce the recipients of the GSA Poster Awards for posters presented at the 32nd Fungal Genetics Conference! Undergraduate and graduate student members of GSA were eligible for the awards, and a hard-working team of judges made the determinations. Congratulations to all! Felicia Ebot Ojong, The University of Georgia My research is focused…

  • Poster presentation tips for TAGC 2024

    You’ve been selected to present a poster at The Allied Genetics Conference 2024 in March—you’ve celebrated, made plans to attend, now what? This is an exciting opportunity to showcase your research and engage with fellow members of the genetics community, so you want to make sure you’re prepared. We wanted to offer you some tips…

  • Maximize your TAGC 2024 experience 

    A guide to all that National Harbor & DC have to offer Are you joining us for The Allied Genetics Conference 2024 in March? Make the most of your #TAGC24 experience in National Harbor! We know the science will keep you busy, but you deserve to unwind and have some fun, so we’ve curated a…

  • Early Career Leadership Spotlight: Sarah Petrosky

    We’re taking time to get to know the members of the GSA’s Early Career Scientist Committees. Join us to learn more about our early career scientist advocates. Sarah PetroskyMultimedia SubcommitteeUniversity of Pittsburgh Research Interest I am interested in understanding adaptation that has been happening recently in populations by dissecting the ways that genes underlying an adaptation…

  • TAGC 2024 Early Career Award Winners

    GSA is pleased to announce the winners of the early career awards presented at The Allied Genetics Conference 2024. These awards are specific to particular TAGC communities and recognize early career scientists’ outstanding work on their respective research organisms. The awardees will present their talks in keynote sessions at TAGC 2024.  Don’t miss the opportunity…

  • Preeminent geneticists recognized with revamped GSA Awards

    In 2022, GSA’s Board of Directors launched an audit to review the five major awards conferred by the Society. Today, we are thrilled to announce the recipients of the reimagined GSA Awards, including the new Genetics Society of America Early Career Medal. The scientists honored this year are recognized by their peers for their outstanding…

  • Fly Board funds outreach programs to spread the word about Drosophila research

    In 2020, the Fly Board voted to use part of its reserve fund to support efforts to increase trainee participation as well as equity and diversity in the Drosophila community. An awards committee decides how the money will be spent each year, and from 2020–2022, the committee posted a very broad call for applications from…

  • New members of the GSA Board of Directors: 2024–2026

    We are pleased to announce the election of four new leaders to the GSA Board of Directors: 2024 Vice President/2025 President Brenda Andrews Professor, University of Toronto It’s an honor to continue my association with the Society by serving as Vice President of the Board of Directors. I have broad knowledge of the ongoing activities…

  • A tail of three regulatory elements: insights into the structure of C. elegans Raf/LIN-25

    A new paper in GENETICS shows the distal tail segment Raf/LIN-45 downregulates signaling and models its function in other Raf proteins.

  • New members of the GSA Board of Directors: 2025–2027

    We are pleased to announce the election of six new leaders to the GSA Board of Directors: 2025 Vice President/2026 President Cassandra Extavour Timken Professor of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology and of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Harvard University, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator “Read this,” he said, “it will change your life.” My undergraduate…

  • Congratulations, Spring 2025 Victoria Finnerty Travel Award recipients!

    The Victoria Finnerty Undergraduate Travel Award supports conference-attendance costs for undergraduate GSA members who are presenting research at the Annual Drosophila Research Conference. #Dros25 will be held in San Diego, CA from March 19–23, 2025. Victoria Finnerty, who died in February 2011, was a long-time member of the Genetics Society of America and served the Drosophila community and the genetics community at large in…