Zero Textbook Cost Resources (ZTC/OER/LTC)

Yes and no. As with most things, there isn't one simple answer.

Each AI tool comes with its own license. Some can be used to generate content or to help you structure your projects, others might legally affect the license you're able to use; potentially preventing you from making a resource 'open'.

On this page, we will present some AI tools that you can legally use and provide tips on using them effectively!

Below, each tool will start with (if needed) a note on proper use/limitations. This is to denote any best practices to ensure legal use.

Beyond simply the legality question, there are also questions of bias and quality. No AI tool should be used to create tools and resources on their own. However, they can be a valuable addition to help ease some of the challenges of creating OER content.

AI Tools can help with Planning (creating outlines and objectives), Creating (Writing summaries and brainstorming assignments and assessments), and translating.

What is Goblin.Tools?

Goblin.tools is an AI-powered assistant. It does not generate written text, but instead provides handy tools to help you organize and understand content. It features five main tools.

How do I use it?

• Magic ToDo: Break down tasks into manageable to-do lists.
  • Example prompt: "I need to write a textbook chapter on atoms, molecules, and ions including an introduction and sections on atomic theory, atomic structures, chemical formulas, the periodic table, ionic and molecular compounds, and chemical nomenclature. I also need to add pages on key terms, equations, and exercises." To use it, type in your prompt and add it, then click the magic wand icon to the right to have it generate a to-do list.
• Formalizer: Convert common parlance/writing into more formal, professional writing.
  • Enter the desired text into the text box and then click on the blue Convert button.
• Judge: Enter text to have it interpret the 'tone' of the writing and how it comes across to the reader.
  • Enter the desired text and click on the blue Judge button.
• Estimator: Estimate how long a task will take to complete.
  • Enter a thorough description of the activity or task and then click on the blue Estimate button.
• Compiler: Compile a brainstormed list of tasks into a more organized task list.
  • Enter your tasks and click on the blue Turn into tasks button.

What is Teaching.tools?

Teaching.tools is an AI-powered platform to help educators plan their lessons and course materials. It includes a brainstorming tool for infusing new ideas into lectures and discussions, a lesson planner, and a discovery tool for finding activities.

How do I use it?

• Plan a Lesson: The lesson planner will take your prompt and build out a lesson plan. You can limit this plan by duration, modality, class size, objectives, and assessments.
• Brainstorm with AI: The brainstorming tool lets you pick from learning objectives, lecture topics, discussion questions, or case studies for help generating new ideas to use.
• Find an Activity: The activity finder has a collection of activities and lets you filter by difficulty, active learning type, class size, feedback, Bloom's taxonomy, inclusive learning options, and more.

Limitations: You can directly copy text from this tool, but must provide a citation of its source (perplexity.ai).

What is Perplexity.ai?

Perplexity.ai is a tool that allows you to enter a question prompt and receive a short write up answering that question with cited sources and images that might be found related to it.

How do I use it?

You enter your prompt and click enter. You can also refine your results before entering the prompt by clicking on the spyglass underneath the textbook to select the type of sources you allow it to use (including limiting it to Academic sources). You can also upload PDF files that you want it to use in your response. When you want more comprehensive responses, you can click the toggle to enable Copilot.

Limitations: You should not directly copy and use the text from this tool, as that is reserved as property of the company and limited solely to personal use. However, you can use that text to create your own summary and/or paraphrased content.

What is ChatPDF?

ChatPDF allows you to upload a PDF (such as a scholarly article), whereupon it will analyze the document and allow you to ask questions to find out information from/about it. Note: The free version of ChatPDF only allows you to analyze two PDFs per day. It has a max file size of 32 MB.

How do I use it?

Drag and drop a PDF into the box. It will then load into the chat page where it will provide a brief summary of the document and suggest example questions. You then type your questions at the bottom to get AI-generated responses based on the document.

Limitations: You should not directly copy and use the text from this tool, as that is reserved as property of the company and limited solely to personal use. However, you can use that text to create your own summary and/or paraphrased content.

What is Bing Chat?

Bing chat is very similar to ChatGPT, but it is superior in a number of ways. One key element is that it can more accurately cite sources for its writing.

How do I use it?

• Open the website below and then click on Create. This will automatically start creating based on an example prompt. Click the button to stop it. There may be a pop-up prompt for you to acknowledge.
• You have three options to guide its creativity: More Creative, More Balanced, and More Precise.
• Then type your prompt into the textbox at the bottom of the screen and click enter.
  • Remember that this content is copyrighted but allowed for personal use. Any text should be used only to help write your own original text and should not be copied directly into an OER.

Tips for writing good AI prompts:

• Identify your purpose or goals
• Give clear and specific instructions. This often requires more details and information rather than using short, generalized statements
• Include contextual information to help flesh out your content. AI cannot understand context unless it is described
• Ask open-ended questions

Example prompts:

• How to create a social media strategy including defining the target audience, setting goals, and measuring success
• Explain the basic formatting requirements of the 7th edition of the APA citation style
• Provide best practices for teaching adult learners in a college classroom
• Provide a timeline of major events in the United States civil war