Take Back the Textbook!

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Presenters: Anna Everett, Tim Krause, Taryn Oakley, Michelle Huss, and Anne Nichol

In this presentation, Open Educational Resources (OER) mentors at Portland Community College discuss the benefits of using free, open-access course materials. High textbook costs often prevent students from purchasing required books or enrolling in courses altogether. By adopting or adapting OER, instructors can remove financial barriers, increase engagement, and customize learning content to meet student needs and CCOGs. The session covers where to find existing OER repositories, how Creative Commons licensing works, available internal PCC grant funding, and ways to address accessibility and consistency across course sections.

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Presentation Outcomes

  • Understand the definition and impact of Open Educational Resources (OER) on student success and financial equity.
  • Locate existing OER materials using key repositories such as the PCC Library Guides, Open Oregon Resources, Open Textbook Library, Pressbooks, and OER Commons.
  • Identify different Creative Commons licenses and understand how to legally adopt, adapt, or remix content.
  • Explore available funding opportunities and support systems at PCC for implementing OER in your courses.

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