Developing a participatory textbook for the Internet

This paper summarizes the design and development of a participatory calculus textbook offered as a subscription site on the Internet. The project contains nearly 19000 HTML files presenting the complete single and multivariable calculus curriculum in addition to a wealth of supplemental content. As an interactive multimedia textbook, it integrates text, graphics, animation, simulation, and live mathematics. The text also features collaborative environments similar to the familiar online chat and news. We call the convergence of interactive multimedia course materials with context-sensitive collaborative environments a participatory document. The structure of this project represents over four years of design research while implementation represents several person-years. Hundreds of students have used the text and based partly on their feedback, we are now preparing a number of additional projects. We present the principles developed in designing, implementing and hosting participatory textbooks and show the applicability to a wide range of disciplines.