I want to thank folks who contacted me about open textbooks for adult basic math. I taught the course last quarter with downloaded worksheets, old textbooks, and out-dated GED teaching materials. My class made it work – I turned it into a projects-based curriculum, and it was a lot of fun.<\/p>\n
The next quarter I teach the class will be somewhat different because I have settled on a textbook: The Fundamentals of Mathematics<\/a> by Burzynski & Ellis from OpenStax (Rice University)<\/a>. I like the text because it is clear, contains well laid out, step-by-step explanations, and it is very visual. According to the site: “The work text format gives the student space to practice mathematical skills with ready reference to sample problems. The chapters are divided into sections, and each section is a complete treatment of a particular topic, which includes the following features:<\/p>\n The chapters begin with Objectives and end with a Summary of Key Concepts, an Exercise Supplement, and a Proficiency Exam.”<\/p>\n Strangely enough, I could not find the book there from the front page, I had to Google it. I will have to email to see if the book is being retired or something. I down-loaded a pdf just in case.\u00a0 The text is free, openly licensed, not behind a login or a paywall.<\/p>\n My main concern with textbooks is getting them into the hands of students in a timely fashion. Many of my students are in marginal economic circumstances. I would also like to break the book down into modules and put it up online. Both of these cases require an openly licensed book.<\/p>\n I looked at a number of sources – there are some great ones from the University of British Columbia but the illustrations were all of things like Canadian money. I looked at others that were teaching the right subjects but the audience was obviously 6th graders – lots of juggling clowns, etc.<\/p>\n If you have any other suggestions – feel free to send them my way OR if you have taught using this textbook, I would love to hear from you!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I want to thank folks who contacted me about open textbooks for adult basic math. I taught the course last quarter with downloaded worksheets, old textbooks, and out-dated GED teaching materials. My class made it work – I turned it … Continue reading \n