The Trent University Library & Archives and the Trent Teaching Commons (formerly known as the Centre for Teaching and Learning) are working together to help reduce textbook and course material costs for students.
A pilot project launched this fall in collaboration with 14 professors provided more than 3,500 students across a range of disciplines - from math to nursing and more - with high-quality, free-to-use learning materials in replace of paid texts.
"The library has long been dedicated to providing affordable access to course materials through services like course reserves, reading lists, and resource sharing," said Trent University Librarian Emily Tufts. "Partnering with Trent Teaching Commons to create this open educational resources program is a win all around. Students save money, faculty gain flexibility, and education becomes more inclusive."
In addition to the financial advantages of leveraging digital and open-license material, adopting open educational resources (OER) practices also enables innovative teaching and learning approaches, providing value to students and teachers alike.
"As an OER Ranger with eCampus Ontario last year, I was thrilled to participate in Trent's pilot to help introduce students and faculty across the institution to OERs," said Brent Bellamy, sessional faculty member in the English and Cultural Studies departments at Trent. "Students in my fourth-year Contemporary Topics in Media Studies class were impressed by how easy to access and up-to-date the readings were, both in terms of their theoretical approach and cultural reference."
While the primary goal of the initial launch was focused on OER adoption, future efforts are set to go a step further, involving adaptation and creation of new OERs.
