This project is now complete.
This project initially aimed to adapt Introduction to Psychology, 1st Canadian Edition. In the end, the final book was adapted from five different open textbooks and includes a significant amount of original content, including original drawings and a collection of supplemental readings.
You can access the final resources here:
- Introduction to Psychology: Moving Towards Diversity and Inclusion
- Introduction to Psychology: Supplemental Readings and Resources – Moving Towards Diversity and Inclusion
The goal of this project was to adapt Introduction to Psychology, 1st Canadian Edition, a first-year psychology open textbook, through the lenses of equity, diversity, and inclusion. This project took a collaborative approach, involving contributors from multiple institutions across B.C. who brought different perspectives and areas of expertise.
This is the first time BCcampus supported an equity-focused open educational resource (OER) adaptation project, and we learned a lot during the project. Our goals were to improve the relevancy and equity of a well-adopted open textbook and explore the efficacy of adaptation projects. Is adapting existing OER in an effective way to diversify and improve educational resources? What’s the best way to scope and prioritize the work? What kind of supports and resources are needed to ensure adaptation projects are successful?
The final resource has been shared openly under a Creative Commons license for instructors and students around the world to use and adapt for free.
Who’s Involved
The project team included representation from the Justice Institute of British Columbia, College of New Caledonia, Thompson Rivers University, University of British Columbia – Okanagan Campus, and Capilano University.
This project was funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Timeline
This project ran from July 2023 to August 2024.
Background
Introduction to Psychology, 1st Canadian Edition was initially adapted by Jennifer Walinga in 2014 from an American open textbook published in 2010. The adaptation was one of the first funded by BCcampus, and it focused on revising the book to make it relevant for Canadian post-secondary students.
Between 2014 and 2023, this book had been adopted by B.C. faculty in more than 200 psychology courses and saved students $810 000.
Who to Contact
For more information, please contact Josie Gray, manager, Production & Publishing