At Rebus we are thinking about a scalable approach to publishing OER, building out systems based on collaboration, with an initial focus on North America. But if we (or similar projects) get this right, we start to be able to think about where and how the model could have impacts: around the globe and in (many) specific subject areas. What could that look like? Do we want it to happen? How do we get there in a way that is mindful of vastly differing contexts? Can we build tools/systems/approaches that are in service of localized needs, rather than forcing "a way of doing things"?
Inspired by these questions, we have spent a year giving hands-on support to ~15 open textbook projects, and are now turning what we've learned into tools and resources that can be used by others looking to publish open textbooks. We've learned how to successfully (or not) recruit, engage and retain collaborators from around the world, and now want to help make publishing easier for others. In this session, we’ll talk about where we’ve been, where we’re going, what we’ve learned, and how you can get involved!