Early Bird

Open Educational Resources trainings and minigrants

Faculty members can remove cost barriers for students, explore OER and earn up to $1,450.

By Emily Ragan, Ph.D.

January 19, 2022

Course-material costs can be a barrier for students. A recent survey of Metropolitan State University of Denver students found that 35% reported not purchasing at least one required textbook and that 15% reported taking fewer courses due to the cost of required textbooks. Of the students surveyed, 66% didn’t receive financial aid to cover textbook costs, and 90% agreed that having a course in which they are not required to purchase additional materials is a significant benefit. Open Educational Resources provide one strategy for reducing course-material costs.

Open Textbook Review Workshop

Faculty participants will learn more about OER and will receive a $200 stipend after attending and writing a review of an open textbook.

Jan. 28

1-2:30 p.m.

Hosted via Microsoft Teams.

Register today.

Spring OER Faculty Learning Community

The FLC will explore implementing OER in courses, and participants will receive a $500 stipend for attending at least five of the seven sessions.

Every other Thursday, beginning Jan. 27

2-3:30 p.m.

Learn more and register.

$750 OER Adoption Minigrant

Faculty members who are using OER as the primary resource for a course for the first time this spring, or who are preparing for primary OER use in a course in summer or fall, are encouraged to apply for a $750 minigrant by Feb. 4.

Library consultation

Faculty members are also welcome to set up an Auraria Library consultation for help finding OER or other no-cost-to-students resources. Rachel Stott, online-learning-program lead librarian, and Lorrie Evans, teaching-and-learning program lead, are especially knowledgeable about OER.

Sign up for a session.

Please contact Emily Ragan, Ph.D., associate professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, for more information.