Why it’s a big deal
The high cost of textbooks has become a serious obstacle to accessing post-secondary education in British Columbia. The commercial textbook market enables publishers to generate huge profits at students’ expense. While B.C. students (and their families) incur debt due to rent, food and tuition costs, the rising costs of already expensive textbooks adds additional financial burden and can result in delayed life choices, increased debt, and compromised academic goals. These costs limit our academic potential, and are a barrier to accessing post-secondary education for many students like us.
Who makes OERS? How are they funded?
BCcampus, an agency of the BC government, is tasked with centralizing efforts to create and enhance open education resources in the province. In 2012 the government provided one million dollars to initiate the open textbook initiative, and added an additional one million in 2013 to further grow the project. Since that time, open textbooks have saved students over $9 million collectively through traditional, high-cost textbooks being replaced with OER options. More funding will result in more resources and save students money one class at a time! All it takes to expand the program is a commitment from instructors and administration to make saving students money a priority.
To learn more about BCcampus and to search the database of available resources, check out their website.
In June 2018, the provincial government provided BCcampus with $250,000 to create or adapt open textbooks for all course levels in the BC Adult Dogwood diploma (adult basic education), including math, English, science, social science, computer studies, education, and career planning.
In April 2019, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training Melanie Mark announced an infusion of an additional $3.26 million to BCcampus for the creation and enhancement of OERs. This is an historic investment and will launch the OER initiative in BC forward leaps and bounds!
What you can do
Join the online provincial conversation on OERs by following #textbookbrokeBC, and posting online your experience with OERs. You can also tweet your textbook receipt using the hashtag #textbookbrokeBC to share how the rising costs of textbooks are affecting you.
Talk to an instructor you think would be interested in adopting open education resources, or point them to your institutions library for information on OERs.
We usually have a few pledges at our events, and they’re always available in our offices. Help us tell the provincial government that this is an important cause! You can also talk to us for other ways to get involved!
OERs at Okanagan College
The Library has tons of free textbooks for many of OC’s courses. Not all of their textbooks are “true” OERs – some books may only allow a few simultaneous users, for example – but they are still an incredible resource! We thank the library staff for all their hard work in helping ensure students have access to the learning resources they need to succeed in their education.
Click the button below to see a list of e-textbooks available at the library for Winter 2021!
Information for Instructors
The COVID-19 crisis has been a challenge for students and instructors alike. Working and teaching from home is, as it would turn out, quite difficult. But did you know that OERs can help make it a bit easier? It’s true! They save instructors time and money, grant freedom in teaching your course, and everything is available online – no need to worry about print books! Check out BCcampus’s handy infographic here to learn more.
