OpenStax develops ‘smart’ digital textbooks

OpenStax, a non-profit project of Rice University in Houston, USA, develops digital textbooks that use smart algorithms to adapt the teaching material to the student in question.

The OpenStax project already provides free digital and normal textbooks on subjects such as economics and biology. Rice University researchers have examined the behavior of students using these resources in twelve schools over the past three years. The school results were also mapped.

Based on the study, OpenStax developed algorithms to adapt the information displayed to the student’s level and previous results. Digital study material for the subjects of biology and physics was then developed. For example, the material provided in these digital textbooks shows more information about a subject with which a student has difficulty. Additional questions are also presented. Furthermore, previous teaching material is repeated by having the student take quizzes in the meantime.

According to the developers, the ‘smart’ textbooks help students to better absorb teaching material. Moreover, the tailor-made information would better match the needs and level of the student in question, so that smart people take in the teaching material at a different pace and with different information than less fast students, NewScientist writes.

OpenStax plans to offer its smart textbooks on a limited scale, but several major schools have already expressed interest in the project. In addition, the non-profit organization is working on ‘smart’ teaching materials for other subjects. The program includes subjects such as political science and mathematics. OpenStax has $9 million, about 6.8 million euros, to continue the project.