Open Educational Resources at RTC: Resources for Faculty

The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning is a refereed, open access e-journal disseminating original research, theory, and best practices in open and distributed learning worldwide. IRRODL is free to anyone with Internet access and does not charge article submission or access fees. The journal serves both researchers and practitioners of open and distance education systems.

The OER Adoption Impact Explorer helps you understand some of the impacts of adopting OER instead of commercial textbooks.

The MERLOT Journal of Online Learning and Teaching (JOLT) is a peer-reviewed, open-access, online publication that aims to promote scholarship in the use of the Internet and web-based multimedia resources in higher education.

An Open Access online journal which publishes research articles, reviews, letters and guest edited single topic issues in all areas of education research and on contemporary education issues and learning, including special education.

Launched in Fall 2013, TCC was the first to offer a degree in which students pay nothing for required textbooks. Named “Z-Degree”, this program awards an associates degree in business administration with zero textbook cost to students.

Dubbed as "Maricopa Millions Project," this is a partnership between the eight community colleges in Phoenix, Arizona with the goal of saving students $5M in 5 years in textbook costs.

Launched the Liberate Project in 2011 to promote OER awareness and adoption among faculty and students. It saved students around $271,000 in textbook costs just in its first nine months.

Started the Math OER program in 2012 where faculty used OER materials such as open textbook, interactive workbook, online homework software, and tutorials to teach mathematics to their students.

Established the Community College Consortium for Open Educational Resources (CCCOER) in 2007 which exists to identify, create and/or repurpose existing OER as open textbooks and make them available for use by community college students and faculty.

Launched the OER Faculty Fellowship that provides support and opportunities for faculty to create and use OER in their courses, save students money, and increase the number of textbook-free courses.

Launched the Affordable Learning Solutions project that enables faculty to choose and provide more affordable, quality educational content for their students.

Created the Open Textbook Library, a catalog of open access textbooks reviewed by faculty members and made available by the University of Minnesota's College of Education and Human Development.

Open access textbook publishing initiative established by the SUNY Libraries that allows creation of high-quality, cost-effective course materials.

Launched the Alt-Textbook Project that allows faculty to innovate pedagogically, enhance access for students to high-quality, tailored educational materials, and reduce textbook costs.

The eText@Illinois program allows UIUC students access to e-textbooks and other classroom materials with multimedia, notes, and assignments embedded directly in context. Instructors can add original or existing materials easily, and students can save 40-75% versus traditional books.

Launched the Open Education Initiative Grants in 2011 for instructors who use low-cost or free alternatives to expensive course materials.