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Everything you need to know about ZTC and OER at CCSF
QUICK GLOSSARY
OER
Open Educational Resources
Free educational resources that can be reused, repurposed, adapted and redistributed
ZTC
Zero Textbook Cost
Students do not incur any costs when
purchasing course materials
LTC
Low Textbook Cost
Students incur costs less than $50 when purchasing course materials
ZTC PATHWAYS GRANT INFORMATION
A Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Pathway is a credit degree that can be completed using OER or other free materials instead of traditional textbooks. The goal is to reduce or eliminate the financial burden of purchasing expensive textbooks for students, making college more affordable and accessible.
You can now apply for ZTC funding for a course within a degree or certificate program
ZTC is an Equity Issue
7/10
California Community College students experienced homelessness, housing insecurity or food insecurity in 2018*
California Community College students experienced homelessness, housing insecurity or food insecurity in 2018*
7%
Course Success Gap between Student Equity Groups and average College Success Rate at CCSF **
Course Success Gap between Student Equity Groups and average College Success Rate at CCSF **
Butte College saved students $2 million over 5 years after adopting ZTC measures. Read the report.
Q&A
What is the difference between OER and ZTC?
What is the difference between OER and ZTC?
OER refers to actual educational materials that are free, openly licensed and repurposed. OER can include textbooks, slideshows, videos, images and more.
ZTC is a designation for courses that use OER and/or other free educational materials to accomplish classroom instruction. This can include library e-books or web resources.
What is the difference between adopt, adapt/remix and author/create OER?
What is the difference between adopt, adapt/remix and author/create OER?
Adopt: using OER materials "as-is" by integrating the materials into Canvas or simply linking to the website where the material(s) are hosted online is the most straightforward and the least time-intensive way to include OER in your course.
Adapt/Remix: editing OER materials to tailor them to your course. Alterations can be as simple as changing graphics, reorganizing chapters, deleting content that isn't relevant, or as intensive as revising the materials to incorporate additional OER sources or content you create yourself.
Create/Author: If there are no appropriate OER available on your topic or if you have course materials that you believe are superior to the OER available online, you may want to consider creating or licensing your own course materials.
What is LibreTexts?
What is LibreTexts?
LibreTexts is the adaptable, user-friendly non-profit open education resource platform that educators trust for creating, customizing, and sharing accessible, interactive textbooks, adaptive homework, and ancillary materials. We collaborate with individuals and organizations to champion open education initiatives, support institutional publishing programs, drive curriculum development projects, and more.
Should I share my textbook with the CCSF bookstore, even if it's OER?
Should I share my textbook with the CCSF bookstore, even if it's OER?
Yes! The bookstore is a centralized platform for students to access textbooks and learning materials. Sharing your OER textbook with the bookstore helps students plan ahead of time, and makes them findable within the library database.
If I wrote or created it, do I own it?
If I wrote or created it, do I own it?
No, not necessarily. Unless something you created with express permissions to reside in the public domain or are under copyright that have been released under an open license, that permit no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, adaptation and redistribution by others.
What can I do to make my course ZTC or LTC?
What can I do to make my course ZTC or LTC?
You can begin by finding out how much learning resources cost to take your class by using the library bookstore. If the cost is over $50, then your class is not LTC.
To get started on finding vetted OER materials for your class, email CCSF OER librarian Megdi Abebe (mabebe@ccsf.edu) to get started on your journey.
The OER librarian can assist you on
Identifying vetted OER materials for your class
Embedding OER within your Canvas course shell
Making OER findable within Library databases
Basic copyright questions
I have more questions, who can I ask?
I have more questions, who can I ask?
CCSF has growing group of faculty, staff and students who are dedicated to expanding OER.
Cynthia Dewar cdewar@ccsf.edu
Dean, Online Program, Educational Technology, Library, and Learning Resources
Amy McLanahan amclanah@ccsf.edu
Math Department Faculty & OER Coordinator
Megdi Abebe mabebe@ccsf.edu
OER Librarian
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