OpenStax
OpenStax is a nonprofit educational initiative based at Rice University, offering free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed textbooks.
Founders
OpenStax was established by Dr. Richard Baraniuk, a professor at Rice University. Dr. Baraniuk is dedicated to providing high-quality educational resources at no cost to students. His vision led to the creation of OpenStax, which aims to make education more accessible and affordable.
History
OpenStax, a nonprofit educational initiative, was founded in 2012 by Dr. Richard Baraniuk at Rice University. The organization emerged from the Connexions project, which started in 1999 and focused on creating an open-content library. OpenStax leverages this foundation to provide free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed textbooks that are available in digital formats.
Products
OpenStax provides a range of textbooks that cover core high school and college subjects. These textbooks are free to download digitally, and low-cost print versions are also available. The subjects covered include biology, physics, sociology, and many others. Each textbook is developed and peer-reviewed by educators to ensure it meets high academic standards.
Services
In addition to providing free textbooks, OpenStax offers various online resources to support educators and students. These resources include open educational resources (OER), supplemental materials, and adaptive learning tools to enhance the teaching and learning experience. The goal is to facilitate educational success by offering a range of supportive tools and materials.
Sector
OpenStax operates within the educational sector, focusing on the creation and distribution of open educational resources. The organization aims to alleviate the financial burden of textbook costs and widen access to educational materials by providing high-quality, freely accessible textbooks and educational resources.