Open Educational Resources
Eliminating the cost of learning materials as a barrier to student success.
OUR APPROACH
We work to rebalance the educational content market and shift stakeholder culture toward a new steady state where the quality, prevalence, and utilization of open educational resources has effectively eliminated the cost of learning materials as a barrier to student success.
Educate Decision Makers
Educate decision makers on the current instructional materials landscape
Support Research
Support research on the educational content market
Advocate for Open
Advocate for the increased use and proliferation of OER as a barrier-breaking modality
Increase Affordability
Increase the affordability of and access to instructional materials
The Problem
7 in 10 students are worried about meeting their course material costs.
57% of students took fewer courses due to course material costs.
31% of students reported failing a course due to course material costs.
Focal Points
Promoting Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Degree Pathways
We support the expansion and permanent funding of ZTC Degree Pathways at two-year institutions with the goal of unburdening millions of financially vulnerable students from costly traditional publisher materials. The initial 2016 pilot program saved students $43 million.
Supporting a Robust OER Market and Ecosystem
We invest in the creation of high-quality OER and in the strengthening of market infrastructure critical to the discovery, sharing, licensing, customization, and continued proliferation of open content.
Protecting Students from Harmful Textbook Industry Practices
We combat the predatory practices of the oligopolistic publishing industries with the creation of a more transparent, competitive, affordable, and student-centered educational marketplace.
OpenStax
OpenStax provides free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed textbooks for post-secondary students.
The nonprofit ed tech initiative is a Michelson 20MM grantee based at Rice University and is committed to helping students access the tools they need to complete their courses and meet their educational goals.
The OER program launched in 2010 with a goal of disrupting the traditional textbook industry. Michelson 20MM gave a catalytic grant to Connections, now widely known as OpenStax, out of Rice University to help create an open educational resource ecosystem. OpenStax launched their first textbook in 2012, and has since grown its current offerings to a library of 70+ free resources, which have been used by over 36 million students across 150 countries. To date, OpenStax has saved students $2.9B through their free, openly licensed textbooks.
Featured Events
The Michelson 20MM Foundation is committed to promoting programs and policies that advance the proliferation and adoption of open educational res...
The Michelson 20MM Foundation is committed to promoting programs and policies that advance the proliferation and adoption of open educational resource...
Open Education Week is a national week of action celebrated by educators, advocates, students, and institutions to draw attention to OER and textbook ...
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For more information about our Open Educational Resources initiative, please sign up for our newsletter or reach out to Cailyn Nagle, OER Senior Program Manager, at cailyn@20mm.org.
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