Shared Knowledge
When educators pool their expertise to create a culture of shared knowledge, everyone benefits. Use of open textbooks can lower educational costs for students. Become involved with the open educational resources (OER) movement so that doors to higher education stay open to all.
The Community College Consortium for Open Educational Resources (CCCOER) is a joint effort by the Foothill-De Anza Community College District, the League for Innovation in the Community College and many other community colleges and university partners to develop and use open educational resources (OER) and especially open textbooks in community college courses. For more details, see the It Takes a Consortium to Support Open Textbooks article in the January/February 2009 issue of Educause Review magazine.
Hewlett Awards Open Textbook Grant
In July 2009, Trustees of The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation approved an award to the Foothill-De Anza Community College District (Los Altos Hills, CA) to manage the Community College Open Textbook Collaborative ($1.5 million) over 2 years. For details, see the August 10th press release.
Community Colleges Promote OER
- Anne Arundel CC
- Cabrillo College
- College of the Canyons
- De Anza College
- Foothill College
- Frederick CC
- Houston Community College
- Kirkwood Community College
- Los Angeles Community College District
- Lake Washington Tech
- Long Beach City College
- Maricopa Colleges
- Middlesex County College
- Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
- Paradise Valley Community College
- Peralta Community College
- Santa Fe College
- SOFIA Foothill-De Anza Community College District
- Walla Walla CC
- Washington State Board
OER Advocate Confirmed as Under Sec for DoE
Dr. Martha Kanter was confirmed as the Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education by the U.S. Senate on Friday, June 19, 2009. Kanter reports to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and oversees policies, programs and activities related to post-secondary education, vocational and adult education, and federal student aid.
Dr. Kanter spearheaded the Community College Consortium for Open Educational Resources and the Community College Open Textbook Project. She has long been an advocate for making higher education more available and affordable for all. For details, see this article in Inside Higher Ed. Kanter is a former chancellor of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District.
Reviews of Open Textbooks!
Read peer-reviews of open textbooks at the Community College Open Textbook Project website. The Project was a one-year feasibility study generously funded by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation to examine sustainable approaches to promoting use and development of high quality, open textbooks.
Get Involved!
To get actively involved, network with others who share your passion for promoting open education. Community colleges are invited to join the CCCOER.
Technology Focus Award
The Community College Consortium for Open Educational Resources received the Technology Focus Award for 2008 from the California Community College System Office. Formal recognition was given at the Board of Governors meeting on January 12, 2009 in Sacramento, CA.
“Focus Awards are selected on the basis of scope and complexity of the endeavor, technological innovation, benefit to the institution and key constituents, and demonstration of excellence and professionalism.”
Sustainability Models
Open Ed 2008 Conference papers, including “Sustainability Models for Community College Open Textbooks” and authored by Kanter, Baker, Thierstein, and Forte, are now available from the Center for Open and Sustainable Learning (COSL) site.
CA BOG Adopts Textbook Rec
The California Community Colleges Board of Governors adopted recommendations on May 5, 2008 developed through its statewide Textbook Summits to improve textbook affordability which include: “Investigating other potential solutions on your campuses, such as creating textbook rental programs, increasing library reserves, encouraging the use of open educational resources, and negotiating with publishers for customized textbook editions, customized bundles, and the timing of new editions.” For details, see Recommendations to Reduce Textbook Costs to Promote Student Access and Success.
CMC3 Supports CCCOER
On Saturday May 10, 2008, the California Mathematics Council Community Colleges (CMC3) unanimously passed the following resolution:
Resolution on Community College Consortium for Open Educational Resources
Whereas the price of higher education is a major barrier to the success of community college students;
and whereas the price of textbooks is a large portion of the cost of an education, often higher than student fees;
and whereas the Community College Consortium for Open Educational Resources (CCCOER) is an effort that will work to provide textbooks available to California Community College Students and others for free;
and whereas the CCCOER was founded by Foothill De Anza community college district;
Be it resolved that the California Mathematics Council, Community Colleges (CMC3) support the organizations and goals of the CCCOER and the CCOT.
Presentation at Sloan Conference
Dr. Judy Baker presented “Open Content for Open Minds: Community College Consortium for Open Educational Resources” at the Sloan-C 2008 International Symposium on Thursday, May 9th in Carefree, Arizona. The presentation slideshow is available for viewing at Slideshare.
Hewlett Approves Grants
On March 17, 2008 Trustees of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation approved $10,075,000 in Open Educational Resources grants including:
Foothill-De Anza Community College District (Los Altos Hills, CA) to plan and pilot the Community College Open Textbook Project ($530,000) over 1 year (includes collaborative funding from Improving Educational Outcomes in California).
