Myth #1: "You get what you pay for."
- Fact: OER can be produced to the same quality standards as traditional textbooks
- Fact: OER can be printed out to look just like a traditional publisher textbook for a fraction of the cost
- Fact: OER is often much more accessible than publisher materials
- Fact: Studies* have shown that students perform just as well with OER than with traditional textbooks
Myth #2: "Open textbooks lack ancillaries."
- Fact: The Open Education community is actively working on producing ancillary materials where none exist.
- Fact: MyOpenMath is comparable to My Math Lab
- Fact: OpenStax books often come with instructor materials
- Fact: Ancillaries are out there (Vision Resource Center, OER Commons, Merlot, etc.)
Myth #3: "OER does not articulate to CSU/UC."
- CSUs-AL$ Affordable Learning Solutions
- Visit Cool4Ed.org for more info
- CSU + CCC Summit February 6th
- "For articulation purposes, the term "textbook" refers to the primary required reading materials students must master in order to complete a course. Some courses are organized entirely around single-source teaching aids...Other courses supplement a primary text with additional required texts"-ASCCC
Myth #4: "OERs are not sustainable."
- Fact: OER is not going anywhere any time fast. Many publishers have begun creating OER curation and delivery services
- Fact: Institutions are beginning to consider OER as a contribution toward tenure
- Fact: OERs themselves are easily updated with the times and students get to keep them even after the course ends
- Fact: CC licenses allow for upkeep over time; small changes don’t require whole new expensive editions
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AB No. 1809 Higher Ed Trailer Bill
"Increased services for high-needs students may include the development of open educational resources and zero-textbook-cost degrees that reduce costs for students. Community college districts utilizing resources for this purpose are encouraged to first develop open educational resources and zero-textbook-cost degrees for courses..." https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB1809
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WHCL developed both an AA-T in psychology and an AA-T in Elementary Teacher Education (thanks to OER grants)
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Admin and board fully supportive of OER/ZTCDs
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Approx. 40% sections offered in SP 19 were ZTC
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Institutionalized OER Librarian position
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OER Committee
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Funding for one new ZTCD per year (stipends & PD)
