Humanizing Education by Tackling Textbook Costs and the Course Materials Crisis

Written By Megan Fruia

Introduction

Imagine being a student trying to focus on learning, but every semester you're forced to make hard choices: Do I buy my textbooks or pay for groceries this month? This is the harsh reality many students face due to the skyrocketing cost of textbooks. Over the past four decades, textbook prices have increased more than 800%, far outpacing inflation, wages, and even tuition. Students are trapped in a cycle where the need for course materials comes at an ever-growing price, and yet, those very materials might not even be fully used in their courses.

This isn’t just a financial burden, it’s a barrier to education. When we talk about humanizing education, we need to recognize that affordability, accessibility, and the ability to participate fully in learning are crucial to empowering students. The traditional course materials industry, dominated by a few large publishers, has consistently failed to deliver these essentials, pushing students into impossible financial positions.

The Financial Strain on Students

For many students, the cost of textbooks can make or break their ability to succeed academically. On average, students in the U.S. spend between $500 and $1,000 annually on textbooks. In a survey by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), 65% of students reported that they’ve had to skip buying a required textbook due to its cost, despite knowing it could affect their grade. Even more alarming, students who work multiple jobs or are already under financial strain are disproportionately impacted, as they may be forced to forgo crucial study materials entirely.

This is not just about money; it's about access to learning. Students who can't afford textbooks are less likely to succeed academically, contributing to a system that rewards wealth over potential. If education is meant to be the great equalizer, then the current textbook system is failing.

Humanizing Education: Addressing the Real Needs of Students

At its core, humanizing education means recognizing that students are people, not just numbers or consumers. They come with diverse life experiences, financial constraints, and learning styles. Forcing them to pay exorbitant prices for textbooks—especially when those textbooks may not even be fully utilized—shows a disregard for their real needs.

Consider this:

  • 40% of students report that faculty don’t use the full textbook in their courses, meaning they’re paying for content that they never even touch.

  • The digital divide makes it harder for students to access materials bundled with costly digital access codes, which often can’t be resold or reused.

These realities paint a picture of an industry that values profit over student success. Education should be about empowering students, not squeezing them financially. That’s where Open Educational Resources (OER) come in, offering a pathway to more humane, equitable learning environments.

OER as a Solution: Beyond Cost Savings

OER are freely available, openly licensed materials that anyone can use, adapt, and share. While their most immediate benefit is financial—helping students save thousands of dollars—they offer much more than just cost savings:

  1. Accessibility: OER can be accessed anywhere, anytime, and often come in multiple formats to suit various learning styles.

  2. Customization: Instructors can adapt OER to fit the specific needs of their course, meaning students only engage with relevant content.

  3. Up-to-Date Content: Unlike traditional textbooks, which can become outdated quickly, OER can be updated frequently to reflect the latest research or developments in a field.

  4. Student Empowerment: In many cases, students themselves can contribute to OER, transforming from passive consumers to active creators of knowledge. This aligns with humanizing education, where learning is participatory, and students have a voice in their educational journey.

Moreover, research shows that students using OER perform as well or better than those using traditional textbooks. The ability to access high-quality, free materials allows students to focus on learning, not stressing over how they’ll afford next semester’s books.

The Call to Action: We Can Do Better

If we truly care about humanizing education, we need to rethink the way we approach course materials. The course materials industry is built on a capitalist framework that prioritizes profit over learning. Practices like releasing frequent, minor textbook updates and bundling access codes into new editions are designed to lock students into expensive cycles without offering real value.

It's time to take a stand. By adopting OER, institutions and educators can break this cycle and give students what they need most: access to education without financial strain.

Here’s how we can start:

  • Faculty: Consider adopting OER for your courses. The cost savings are immediate, but the impact on student success is profound. You have the power to tailor these resources to your course’s needs, ensuring relevant, high-quality content.

  • Institutions: Support OER initiatives by providing faculty development, funding, and recognition for adopting open practices.

  • Students: Advocate for OER at your institution. Let your faculty and administrators know that the cost of textbooks affects your ability to succeed.

The future of education should be open, accessible, and human-centered. OER offers us the opportunity to build that future. Let’s seize it.

References:


Megan Fruia
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