Open for Students
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UNLOCK THE POWER OF OPEN
Welcome to your go-to resource for exploring Open Educational Resources (OERs) and how they can transform your learning experience! OERs are free, accessible, and adaptable educational materials that help make education more equitable and engaging.
Whether you're looking to save money on textbooks, advocate for more affordable course materials, or even contribute to the creation of OERs, this page is here to guide you!
Discover how you can:
- Find OERs for your courses and lighten the financial burden of traditional textbooks.
- Review OERs to help improve their quality and share your learning experience.
- Advocate for OERs by encouraging faculty to explore alternatives to costly textbooks.
- Collaborate on OER projects as a co-op or work-study student.
FIND OER
Looking for free and accessible course materials? Start here!
Use the links below to explore OERs tailored to your learning needs:
- Search OER by Course Code, Subject, or Title to quickly find resources specific to your courses
- Browse OER Collection to explore a wide range of OERs to support your learning
REVIEW OER
Have you used an OER in one of your courses? Your feedback matters! By reviewing OERs, you help improve their quality and usability for future students. Share what worked well, what could be improved, and how the resource supported your learning.
Your review can:
- Help other students and faculty choose the best OERs for their courses.
- Provide valuable insights for creators to enhance existing resources.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of free and accessible educational materials.
Please fill out the form to become an OER reviewer.
ADVOCATE FOR OER
You have the power to make education more affordable and accessible for everyone! By advocating for the use of OERs, you can raise awareness about costly course materials and encourage faculty to explore free, high-quality alternatives.
Here’s how you can take action:
- Start the conversation: Share information about OERs with your professors and peers.
- Raise awareness: Organize or participate in events that promote OERs and affordable learning materials.
- Be a voice for change: Support initiatives that encourage the adoption of OERs on campus and in your community.
Together, we can reduce the financial barriers to education!
Please see our sample talking points and thank you note templates below.
Subject: Exploring Open Textbooks as a Cost-Effective Option
Hi Professor,
Textbook costs are a significant challenge for students on campus. With prices rising at three times the rate of inflation, many students are unable to afford them and often choose not to purchase required texts.
Fortunately, there are affordable alternatives that can help alleviate this burden. Open textbooks, published under an open license, are free to use, share, and adapt. They are written and reviewed by experts, covering the same standard material as traditional textbooks.
What sets open textbooks apart is their flexibility. Instructors can customize the content to suit their course by adding new material and problem sets or removing sections that are not relevant. This adaptability makes them a valuable resource for both students and educators.
Have you ever considered using an open textbook for your course? If not, I encourage you to connect with your faculty librarian or the OER Design Studio at oer@fanshawec.ca to explore the possibilities.
Thank you for your time,
[Your Name]
Subject: Thank You for Using an Open Textbook
Dear Professor [Last Name],
I wanted to thank you for choosing to use an open textbook in [Course Name]. This decision saved me approximately [amount saved] dollars! With these savings, I’ve been able to [describe how this has helped you, such as affording other study materials, reducing financial stress, or supporting your ability to focus on your studies].
Your choice to use an open textbook has truly made a difference for me and has increased access to education in a meaningful way. I deeply appreciate your efforts to support students in this way.
Thank you again!
[Your Name]
WORK WITH THE OER DESIGN STUDIO
Interested in contributing to the creation of educational resources? Are you interested in gaining hands-on experience as a resource developer, instructional designer, or graphic designer? Join the OER Design Studio as a co-op or work-study student!
If you would like to learn more about working in the Studio, please fill out the form.
“Open for Students” by The OER Design Studio is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.