Why Should You Use OER?
- 65% of students report that they skipped buying or renting a textbook because of cost. (Source)
- 26% of students report they drop courses because the textbook cost is too high.
- Nearly half of students say cost of materials impacts which classes and how many they take. (Source)
- Textbook costs have risen 88% over the past decade -- 3 times the rate of inflation. (Source)
- Textbook prices have increased more than 1000% since the 1970s. (Source)
- A 2013 report found that a large majority of students skip buying or renting some of their required textbooks due to cost. (Source)
- 41% of students report that they skip meals to pay for textbooks. (Source)
The College Board suggests that community college students set aside over $1,400 each year for books and other course materials, which can be an exorbitant amount of money for students who come from low-income backgrounds. This figure is $200 more than for students attending four-year universities. (Source)
Source: LOUIS and LCTCS OER Booklet
Open Textbook Alliance Handouts, Guide, and Toolkit
Tools for educating students, faculty members, librarians, and other educators about OER, a detailed guidebook explains the advantages of open textbooks and then lays out specific ways that your college can promote open books, and an organizing toolkit for student governments.
OER Champion Playbook: Strategies and tools to help you achieve a significant impact on teaching and learning using open educational resources
- Making the Case for OER: Build a network of supporters to advocate for the change you want to make.
- Measuring Impact with OER: Define what success looks like for your initiative and how you’ll measure progress.
- Building Awareness & Enthusiasm: Generate awareness, excitement, and momentum to recognize the impact you’re making.
- Supporting Faculty through Change: Identify and deliver resources to support faculty members’ success teaching OER courses.
- Sustaining Change & Impact: Put measures in place to make your initiative viable and successful going forward.
