OER and Textbook Alternatives: Get Involved

At Scottsdale Community College (SCC), we had just hired our two Student OER Specialists before spring break in early March. Due to the virus outbreak, the decision was made to not reopen the campus after spring break. Instead, the OER specialists completed their training remotely and are now both working on Faculty OER related projects.

Hunter Grove first encountered OER during his first year of college, and in his second year, he joined the Textbook Affordability Team and the Associated Student Government, working to educate students and faculty alike about OER and its potential to lower textbook costs for students. He is transferring to Oregon State University (OSU) in the fall and plans to continue his OER advocacy there.

College is an exciting but often expensive journey, and the rising cost of textbooks and other educational materials is a growing concern for many students. Open Educational Resources (OER) — free and accessible educational materials available online — offer a promising solution to some of these challenges. Here’s why OER is not just an innovative tool for educators but also a vital resource for students aiming to thrive and succeed in higher education, from a student perspective.

This collection features open pedagogy projects: student-authored OER that empower students to be involved in the creation of their course. These projects range from collections of essays to design portfolios, personal stories, research projects, student guides, and more. The projects in this collection can be used to inspire your own class projects.