Tired of using a traditional textbook in my Legal and Ethical Environment of Business course that some students did not purchase and more did not read, I began developing a digital textbook that I have now used in eight sections of the course in the past four semesters. In addition to some original content, the e-book currently has more than 700 links to online readings, videos, websites, and other free open-source web materials that appeal to the learning styles and preferences of today's college students and allows them to personalize their learning. The format and content of the book encourage students to be more self-directed, as it requires them to determine which links to review as they attempt to master the material. To add more interactive content to the book, I have assigned students to create study aids, exercises and assessment tools, as well as Infographics that visually summarize course content. With their permission, I have begun embedding this student work into the book for all users, transforming the initial OER project and moving to a format more aligned with Open Educational Practices. This presentation will discuss the evolution of the e-book and why we selected this format instead of simply adopting an existing OER textbook. While demonstrating the book, I will also show attendees assignments produced by students and embedded in the text, before sharing student feedback on how creating and using these course materials has enhanced their learning experience.
