BCcampus Open Collection vs OpenStax
BCcampus Open Collection
collection.bccampus.ca
OpenStax
openstax.orgSide by side
| Figure | BCcampus Open Collection | OpenStax |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 3 |
| Spec score · Open Educational Resource Platforms | 8.1 (#7) | 8.9 (#4) |
| Accessibility | The collection says materials are evaluated for accessibility and inclusivity, and indicates which materials meet BCcampus accessibility criteria. | OpenStax works toward WCAG 2.1 Level AA and Section 508 compliance and uses Level Access for automated and manual accessibility reviews. |
| Founded | 2003 | 2012 |
| Support | Users can contact the Open Education team by email and access accessibility, adaptation, adoption, and self-publishing guides. | OpenStax says its support team helps instructors and students with questions about textbooks, instructor resources, and Assignable through its support center or email. |
| What it is | The B.C. Open Collection is a curated selection of open educational resources, including courses and textbooks. | OpenStax is a nonprofit education initiative of Rice University that publishes free, peer-reviewed educational materials. |
Plans
OpenStax
- OpenStax textbooksFree
- OpenStax Assignable$15, paid once
- OpenStax AssignablePriced on request
In their own words
BCcampus Open Collection
BCcampus Open Collection is a web collection of open educational resources, including courses and textbooks, for educators in B.C. and elsewhere. Materials can be used in classrooms, learning management systems, and other teaching platforms. Browse by subject or search using a B.C. institution course code. The collection includes textbooks, lesson plans, syllabi, assessments, rubrics, discussion topics, activities, and projects. Its openly licensed materials can be used, customized, and shared at no cost; users may edit, add, remix, or remove content. Downloads include PDF, EPUB, and Microsoft Word formats. Materials are reviewed for quality, accessibility, and inclusivity, with indicators for those meeting BCcampus accessibility criteria. Textbooks must have editable and PDF versions, meet accessibility criteria, and work as-is in a Canadian classroom. Courses receive instructional design review covering learning principles, accessibility, and representation. Anyone can submit a resource for review. The free plan costs nothing. Some school district networks or devices may have access issues.
OpenStax
OpenStax is a nonprofit education initiative of Rice University that publishes free, openly licensed textbooks and related materials for introductory courses. Subject matter experts write the textbooks, which are peer-reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Books can be read online on the web, Android or iOS, or downloaded as free PDFs; low-cost print editions are also offered. Most titles are accessible without an account, although a small number require sign-in. Students can highlight, take notes and create study guides, with a free student account required for some features. Educators with a free account can access test banks, PowerPoint slides, solutions manuals and customization tools. OpenStax Assignable lets instructors assign readings, assessments and supporting materials through an LMS, with automatic grading and gradebook synchronization. It supports LTI 1.3 and Blackboard, Canvas, D2L Brightspace and Moodle. Textbooks cost nothing. Assignable starts at $15, paid once, billed per student per semester; instructors use it free, and a two-week trial begins on the first day of access. Institutional pricing is by contact.