What makes this textbook stand out? How can it inspire other educators to rethink their teaching materials? And what does this project tell us about the future of open education?
“Many students struggle with basic genetics concepts”
The project began in 2022, in celebration of the 200th anniversary of genetics pioneer Johann Gregor Mendel. Ševčovičová and her team developed the Slovak textbook to make genetics concepts accessible to a broad audience. Hughes discovered the book during an Erasmus+ exchange visit and was inspired by its approach: “This book doesn’t just present textbook knowledge, it uses everyday examples to break down complex ideas, encouraging critical thinking,” Hughes explains. “It really combines foundational concepts with the latest trends across medicine, biotechnology, and even agriculture.”
Recognizing its potential for VU students, Hughes collaborated with Ševčovičová to translate the book into English and make it an Open Educational Resource (OER). The goal? To address a common challenge: “many students, including those from other fields who could benefit from understanding genetics, struggle with basic concepts, particularly when existing textbooks are overly complicated or expensive,” says Ševčovičová.
Open education is not just about saving money
Unlike traditional textbooks, OERs are free, adaptable, and easily updated to keep pace with fast-evolving fields like genetics. They are designed to meet the changing needs of education, making them fitting for a diverse range of students and educators. Students can access the textbook on any device, lowering barriers for those who might not invest in costly course materials. Hughes: “Some students come from a non-biological field, and it is unlikely that they will spend a lot of money on a textbook, although the need for a clear introduction to the topic is even higher for them. By sharing the textbook openly, this group of students can still access it.” OERs like ‘Genetics for everyone’, also save institutions from paying enormous amounts of money to publishing platforms that present information that often comes from within the universities.
However, the perks go beyond cost savings: “OERs truly boosts collaboration among educators, offering opportunities to adapt, reuse, and share resources tailored to specific learning environments. The use and sharing of OERs shows that we take education seriously, just like we do with research publications. And collaborating on open educational materials ultimately supports good quality education,” Linde Voorend, VU University Library.
Support for VU educators
At VU Amsterdam, the University Library plays a key role in promoting and supporting OERs. Hughes: “They provided us with guidance on finding existing resources, choosing the right licences, handling copyright issues, and sharing materials on accessible platforms.”
Are you also interested in creating or exploring Open Educational Resources for your courses? Visit the University Library's website or contact their team for personalized support.
