What is Course Material Affordability?
The idea that reducing the cost of learning materials in your classes can lower barriers to students access and increase student retention and success.
Why use Affordable Course Materials?
They can deliver two great benefits for students:
1. Lower cost in obtaining the educational resources needed to succeed in school, thus removing what can be an impediment to success.
2. Access to a universe of high-quality, updated content that can be tailored minute-by-minute by educators to reflect new developments and current events. (1)
Examples?
• Zero Cost Materials - Open Textbooks, Open Articles, Links to websites, Library Materials, Open Homework Systems
• Open Educational Resources (OER) - Open Textbooks, Open Articles, Open Homework Systems
• LT40 - Reduced cost textbooks and homework systems available from many commercial providers
How do I find them?
Use this guide and/or contact Dale Dulaney ddulaney@virginiawestern.edu, 857-7438.
References - Overview Tab
(1) Trettin, Sara and Dipayan Ghosh. "Open Education Week 2015." The White House: President Barack Obama, Blog, Web. 11 March. 2015. Accessed at https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2015/03/11/open-education-week-2015
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