Open Educational Resources Archives

College Textbooks Are Still a Racket… But They Don’t Have to Be: Reflections From Sacramento’s Policy Lunch and Learn

Students continue to struggle to access their course materials as 63-65% of students report not buying a textbook due to its cost. This does not have to be the case, though, by leveraging OER and ZTC programs, the state can eliminate the cost barrier of essential course materials.

Meet the 2023 Textbook Affordability Fellows

Over the course of the year, the 2023 Textbook Affordability Fellows will build the movement in California higher education to break down barriers to access and equity in the classroom through expanding the use of OER.

One Step Closer to the Promise of Open: The Creative Commons Bay Area Bootcamp

The Creative Commons Bay Area Bootcamp has wrapped up as 13 California Community College (CCC) faculty earned their certification in Creative Commons Licensing! The Michelson 20MM Foundation was thrilled to invest in the CCC educators and librarians who make this work possible as the CCC system works toward implementing the $115 million investment in Zero Textbook Cost degrees.

Ever Resilient, Directly-Impacted Leaders Share Their Thoughts on How to Support Students Transitioning From Prison to Campus

Supporting Students Transitioning From Prison to Campus

Not only do formerly incarcerated students deserve to belong on campus and are often excellent students, they also possess a drive unlike many others. Directly-impacted leaders and subject matter experts discussed ways to support students as they transition onto campus.

An Opportunity for the California Community Colleges to Renew Their Commitment to Equity: 2023 Annual Legislative Conference

The Michelson 20MM Foundation is excited to support the Community College League of California’s 2023 Annual Legislative Conference on January 29th and 30th in Sacramento. We hope to see you there!

From Textbook Affordability Intern to OER Program Coordinator: Celebrating Marissa Martinez

Marissa began interning for Michelson 20MM’s OER initiative in the summer of 2022, where they leveraged their passion for eliminating systemic barriers to advance a more affordable and equitable postsecondary environment. Now, they will further their work as the OER Program Coordinator.

New Year, New Opportunities to Advance Open Educational Resources

Over the past year, we welcomed three Open Educational Resources (OER) Spark Grantees, continued to advocate for the rollout of Zero-Textbook Cost degree programs centering the needs of educators and students, and will fight for an inclusive and open world in 2023 and beyond.

Creative Commons Certificate Bootcamp: Equipping Educators With the Tools to Go Open

With Creative Commons and the California Community College’s Academic Senate’s Open Educational Resources Initiative, we are supporting participating CCC faculty members as they gain CC expertise during the Creative Commons Certificate Bootcamp.

OER Gives Students the Opportunity to Reclaim Their Education—How Open 22 Inspired a Recent Graduate

OER gives students the opportunity to reclaim their education as it is an investment in a future that won’t force students to become experts in advocacy. It’s clear that we need all hands on deck to corner the textbook monopoly, and most importantly we need to have the student experience at the center of our work as we continue to win.

Safeguarding Student Data – SPARC Is Analyzing How Digital Textbook Publishers Gather and Use Personal Information

Via a Spark Grant, SPARC will analyze how the top three to five textbook and coursework publishers are collecting and using student data.