Use of open source mathematics textbooks in university courses

In the Undergraduate Teaching and Learning in Mathematics with Open Software and Textbooks project we study the use of open source textbooks in the teaching and learning of mathematics at the university level (Beezer et al., 2018). The project gathers (a) real-time, individualized viewing data from three dynamic university textbooks for calculus, linear algebra, and abstract algebra; (b) ongoing surveys of users’ descriptions of the textbook use; (c) users’ questionnaires (beliefs and attitudes towards mathematics, technology, teaching, and learning); and (d) student performance (tests of knowledge and grades). The textbooks have been enhanced with a variety of features (WeBWorK, Geogebra, Interactive Reading Questions, and computational cells). In this article I highlight the theoretical and methodological approaches used in the project to answer two questions: How do students and instructors use textbooks? and How can we develop textbooks that will improve teaching and learning?