Dr. Cara Miller Releases Open Textbook with PALNI

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Anderson, Ind. — Dr. Cara Miller, associate professor and director of the English program at Anderson University, recently released “Writing for Digital Media” in conjunction with the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI).

This open textbook, made possible through a Textbook Creation Grant from the PALSave: PALNI Affordable Learning program, addresses the evolving landscape of writing in the digital age. As a peer-reviewed, open educational resource (OER), it is entirely free to students and is ready for use in any classroom.

From social media to websites and blogs, the online realm has become a dynamic space for personal expression, professional communication, academic discourse, and civic engagement. In an era where communication is increasingly mediated through digital platforms, this book explores functions from a critical and rhetorical perspective and provides practical skills and strategies that students can put into practice in their digital writing. 

“Completing this textbook is a huge accomplishment for me personally and professionally,” said Miller. “It represents nearly two years of research, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to deepen my understanding of this important topic and to develop a resource that (I hope) is accessible, thought-provoking, and useful for students as they navigate the complexities of digital communication.”

“The publishing of this book is an achievement in its own right, but it is all the more impressive and demonstrative of Dr. Miller’s commitment to affordable learning for students when seen in the context of her many other OER efforts,” said James Bell, director of libraries and associate professor of library science. “Dr. Miller has participated in multiple other grant initiatives through PALNI and PALSave. These include redesigning courses using open textbooks and resources produced by other content experts, as well as reading and writing thorough reviews of current open textbooks, in order to better promote or educate other teaching faculty about available OER options. Approximately 90 percent of the courses Dr. Miller teaches each year are ‘zero textbook-cost,’ reducing the hidden and sometimes burdensome costs that stack up for students. She is an example of the movement for affordable learning.”

Miller received a PALSave Textbook Creation Grant for the project in 2022. Offered to faculty from PALNI-supported institutions, the grant allows educators to develop open textbooks that are freely available online, making them part of a nationwide effort to reduce the cost of course materials for college students. Financed with support from Lilly Endowment Inc., each grant provides a maximum of $6,500 per project or $5,000 per author.

“Writing for Digital Media” by Cara Miller is available for free through the PALNI Press.

Anderson University educates students for lives of faith and service, offering more than 50 undergraduate majors, 30 three-year degrees, 20 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, alongside adult and graduate programs. The private, liberal arts institution is fully accredited and recognized for excellence in business, computer science, cybersecurity, engineering, music, nursing, psychology, and teacher education programs. Established in 1917 in Anderson, Indiana, by the Church of God, the university remains committed to its Christ-centered mission.