Mar. 31—Thanks to the internet, many expensive college textbooks are being replaced by digital materials, some of which are free.
Barton Community College is ahead of schedule on its three-year to create courses that use free or low-cost educational materials, according to Lee Miller, Barton's director of Innovation & Compliance.
Open Educational Resources, or OERs, are often freely available for teachers and students to use. They can also be shared, reused and adapted. Miller told the BCC Board of Trustees that Barton now offers 66 OER courses, having completed its three-year plan a semester early.
"As of (March 21), we actually went up to 67," Miller said. "There's a good chance we'll be at the 70 marker at the end of spring. We're moving right along; faculty are doing amazing work."
Miller estimates this translated to more than $200,000 in savings to students last year, based on $100 savings for each course with free materials and $50 savings on courses that are considered low-cost.
Work has begun on the next phase of Barton's OER initiative, Miller said. The college will continue to help faculty make the transition to OER courses. The goal is that students will be able to complete a low-cost degree.
"OER is more than just textbook savings," said Miller, who also serves on the Kansas OER Steering Committee. Instructors have more freedom to adapt the materials when compared to the current model of teaching from textbooks.
"Who oversees the freedom of the instructor?" Barton trustee Gary Burke asked.
"They have to go through a rubric and be reviewed," Miller said.
The courses aren't certified for enrollment until they meet the same standards as those using traditional textbooks, said Barton Vice President Elaine Simmons.
President Dr. Carl Heilman said Barton is ahead of most community colleges when it comes to offering OER courses.
"We're in the upper tier," he said. "It's expensive on the technical side. It's a significant effort and commitment on our part."
Trustee Don Learned recalled the days before the internet, and how frustrating it was to buy expensive textbooks that sometimes were hardly used.
"I commend you for this," Learned told Miller. "I think it's wonderful.
More than 30 faculty members have helped with this project, Miller said. The Center of Innovation & Excellence Team includes instructional designers Megan Schiffelbein and Angie Reed; Director of Fort Riley Academic Programs Janet Balk; Director of Learning Services at Barton Community College — Fort Leavenworth Erika Jenkins-Moss; Director of Nursing Renae Skelton; and Executive Director of Career Technical Education (CTE) Mary Foley.
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