Impact Story

Written by Aiko Uehara

Authors and Project Introduction

Dr. Jenna Woodrow, an associate teaching professor in philosophy at Thompson Rivers University (TRU), has initiated the development of two open educational resource (OER) textbooks: Introduction to Ethics and Great Thinkers. Over her 15-years of teaching career at TRU, Dr. Woodrow has been dedicated to making philosophy education more accessible. These textbooks aim to provide high-quality and cost-free learning resources.

Dr. Woodrow collaborated with research assistants (RAs): Calum McCracken, a Master of Arts student in the Human Rights and Social Justice program; Hunter Aiken, a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts student in Social Work and Philosophy; and Gurinder Purewal, a Master of Arts student in the same program as Calum. Additionally, she partnered with expertise from the TRU Open Press. Together, they created these OER textbooks to support philosophy students and faculty at TRU and across the broader educational community.

Project Overview

Introduction to Ethics

Introduction to Ethics, written by Dr. Woodrow, Calum McCracken, and Hunter Aiken, is designed for first- and second-year philosophy students enrolled in PHIL 2010: Introduction to Ethics. It introduces students to the concept of contractual utilitarianism (focused on feminist and moral agency and responsibility), the value of philosophy, moral and ethical relativism, and deontological ethics. The textbook includes case studies from Ethics Board Canada, a national and international organization, which allow students to apply ethical theories in real-world contexts. The book emphasizes pedagogy and accessibility, aimed at removing financial and learning barriers for students. 

Great Thinkers

Great Thinkers, written by Dr. Woodrow and Gurinder Purewal, is aimed at first-year students and serves as an introduction to philosophy. This book takes students on a historical journey, exploring ideas from ancient to modern philosophers. It includes curated readings and educational materials designed to help students understand foundational philosophical ideas while developing critical thinking skills.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite the success of the OER project, the team encountered several challenges along the way. 

Dr. Woodrow had to work within tight development timelines, which created pressure to balance academic rigor with the technical demands of formatting and accessibility. One of the primary technological challenges was ensuring the textbook’s easy navigation within the Pressbooks platform, particularly when labeling page numbers for proper referencing. Dr. Woodrow believes this was especially important for new undergraduate students, who needed intuitive, accessible resources to help them navigate both their courses and the university environment.

The RAs, Calum, Hunter, and Gurinder, also faced technological challenges, particularly with formatting the textbooks. It was crucial to ensure a smooth user experience, and the team worked diligently to ensure that the design was both visually appealing and easy to navigate. In addition, remote work posed some communication challenges, as the team had to maintain a shared vision and coordinate efforts effectively. Although working remotely had its limitations, these challenges ultimately highlighted the value of collaboration and reinforced the flexibility of the OER model in overcoming obstacles.

Collaboration with the TRU Open Press

The successful development of these OER textbooks was made possible through close collaboration with the TRU Open Press. Dr. Woodrow was driven by a goal to alleviate the financial burden on students who often face textbook costs of up to $250 per semester in philosophy courses. 

The TRU Open Press team provided essential support including securing publishing licenses, guided RAs through copyright and editing processes, and assisting with formatting to ensure the textbooks were fully accessible. Their ongoing training and problem-solving support helped the team to stay on track and meet their deadlines.

Benefits: Accessibility, Affordability, and Inclusivity

“We’ve made for [the new learners] their study materials” ー Gurinder Purewal

Both OER textbooks offer significant benefits in terms of accessibility, affordability, and inclusivity for philosophy students. By curating a collection of sources, many of which are already in the public domain, the team has made high-quality educational materials available at no cost.

The textbooks are structured to align with course outlines, guiding students step-by-step through key concepts. Each section includes clear, well-developed introductions to key concepts, helping students engage with the material effectively. This design not only simplifies learning but also enhances students’ ability to navigate the content.

In addition, the project emphasizes economic equity and inclusivity by eliminating textbook costs, ensuring students from diverse backgrounds have equal access to educational resources. The textbooks are also designed to be compatible with e-readers, featuring readable fonts and colours schemes that improve accessibility for a wide range of learners.

Although the textbooks are primarily intended for philosophy students, Calum and Hunter noted that the project’s adaptability allows it to serve a broad range of academic purposes, extending its impact beyond the classroom. The content incorporates readings from both classical and modern philosophers, enriching students’ comprehensive view and understanding of the discipline. This approach broadens the impact of the project, supporting a diverse range of learners and promoting inclusivity in higher education.

Feedback from the Peers, Students, and Others

The OER project has received positive feedback from a wide range of users, including faculty and students at TRU and beyond. 

Dr. Woodrow’s colleagues at other institutions have found her resources invaluable in their ability to helping students engage and progress through philosophical material effectively.

Calum and Hunter’s peers have also expressed excitement about the project, with many students resonating with the material and appreciating its accessible content. Calum noted that the project was especially useful for revisiting foundational ideas from earlier in his studies, allowing him to refresh his understanding of classic philosophical thinkers.

Gurinder’s peers were particularly impressed by the opportunities the project offers for innovative learning.

This broad engagement highlights the OER’s appeal and its potential to support learners across diverse academic settings.

Future Project Scope

Dr. Woodrow is committed to expanding the impact of her OER initiative by creating additional resources for courses that currently lack open materials. She also aims to share these resources with TRU and the wider academic community, encouraging other professors to incorporate them into their teaching.

Calum and Hunter, as active contributors to the project, are also open to ongoing revisions and improvements. One significant advantage of OER is the ability to update and adapt the content based on student feedback; both are willing to engage in this process. They are considering expanding the resources to include audio and visual formats for future iterations, which would further enhance accessibility and engagement. Additionally, Hunter suggested creating a section that addresses broader topics beyond the course curriculum, providing students with additional resources for personal research or intellectual curiosity.

Gurinder is eager to further develop the Great Thinkers by exploring different formats and incorporating additional resources based on user feedback. His goal is to ensure that the OER evolves to meet the needs of diverse learners. Additionally, Gurinder is focused on researching equity and inclusion, particularly in the context of online and remote learning. He is exploring how modern literature can support students in these environments and is investigating ways to integrate the textbook into a more holistic learning experience, ensuring that it serves not only academic content but also the broader needs of students in the digital age.

Conclusion

Dr. Woodrow and her RAs ― Calum, Hunter, and Gurinder ― have created two impactful OER textbooks, Introduction to Ethics and Great Thinkers, which have made a lasting impact on philosophy education at TRU and beyond. By addressing the challenges of reducing textbook costs, improving accessibility, and maintaining academic rigor, these textbooks have improved the learning experience for students. Through collaboration with the TRU Open Press, the team has developed high-quality, user-friendly resources that have expanded access to philosophy education, ensuring that students of all backgrounds can benefit from these materials. The OER project has created a lasting, positive impact on the academic community, supporting students, faculty, and educators in their pursuit of knowledge.

Research Partners’ Interviews