CCAC is pleased to acknowledge and express gratitude to our faculty for Open Educational Resources advocacy and innovation in course materials. Textbook Heroes are members of the CCAC Faculty whose use of open and affordable resources has lowered financial barriers and contributed to more equitable access to education for students.
Be a Hero!
MAT 080, 090, 108, 165, 201, 202
Approximate student savings per semester: $1620 per semester
Which OER? OpenStax Pre Algebra 2e, OpenStax Elementary Algebra 2e, Intermediate Algebra 2e, OpenStax Introductory Statistics, OpenStax Calculus Vol 1, OpenStax Calculus Vol 2
Why OER? Cost and accessibility.
Student Comments: My students like the accessibility and costs of the books.
ENG100, ENG101
Approximate student savings per semester: $4000 per semester
Which OER? Introduction to College Composition and College Composition 1 created by Katie Lang
Why OER? I wanted to ensure it had all the content that I prefer to teach in my courses.
Student Comments: Students like that they have immediate access to the textbook.
SPH 101
Approximate student savings per semester: $3000
Which OER? Public Speaking - The Public Speaking Project
Why OER? I started using the OER when I was teaching an online course and love the cost-effective option for students.
Student comments: My students love that they do not have to purchase a book. They also have commented that they find it a really good supplement to our lectures.
DVS060-BC01 DVS060-BC02 DVS060-BC71
Approximate student savings per semester: $2926
Which OER? Amie Erickson and I compiled useful portions of two OERs in order to make our cohesive OER for DVS060. Erickson & Thomas
Why OER? The textbook I was using for DVS060 went to a new edition, increasing in price.
Student comments: So far I've only received one comment: "I don't have to buy the textbook? Great!"
Patrick Huth
PHS 107
Approximate student savings per semester: $3960
Which OER? OpenStax Astronomy
Why OER? To make quality resources available to CCAC Students
Student comments: Thank you for making this course more affordable.
English 101, Children's Literature
Approximate student savings per semester: $21,575
Which OER? English 101: Academic Writing: An Introduction (created by a team of CCAC English instructors) The Inside, Outside, and Upside Downs of Children's Literature: From Poets and Pop-Ups to Princesses and Porridge
Why OER? I become interested in OERs when I noticed how many students were having difficulty affording their textbooks. I then had an opportunity to collaboratively create an OER customized for English 101 students, and I was fascinated by the process!
Student comments:My students have really appreciated both cost-free textbooks and easy digital access. I love that, in the classroom, students can simply glance at their laptops, e-readers, or even phones to access the textbook: no one can say they "forgot" or "don't have" the book, as it's literally at our fingertips! My English 101 students told me that they really enjoyed having a book that was written specifically for them by their own professors. They appreciated that personalization, which would never happen with a traditional off-the-shelf textbook.
BIO 175: Microbiology
Approximate student savings per semester: $9156
Which OER? Self authored Microbiology Lab book
Why OER? After serving as a liaison on the OER development team last spring, I was very motivated to develop my own OER microbiology lab book.
I have taught microbiology for many years and had been collecting pictures and altered lab techniques. Also, the lab book we previously used was not as user friendly as I liked and was constantly adapting labs for our classroom.
Student comments: It's free. It is very succint!
SPH 101: Oral Communications
Approximate student savings per semester: $5400
Which OER? The Public Speaking Project
Why OER? To easily supplement my lectures and learning materials in an affordable and easy manner for students.
Student comments: Students have shared how easy it is to read the material for the class because they can connect to the book on any device.
PHL 101 & 111
Approximate student savings per semester: $4166
Which OER?
PHL101: Philosophy Readings (Hagman & Nesse) from LibreTexts
PHL111: World Religions I, Lumen, from LibreTexts
Why OER? The decision to use OER was easy for me and financially merciful for the students. In some cases the OER needed to be adapted, so I created my own excerpts and put them on Blackboard.
ECD 101, 103, 104, 209, 211
Approximate savings in 23SP: $5120
Which OER? Child Growth and Development by College of the Canyons.
Why OER? OER can be updated and revised easily, making it possible to keep course materials current and relevant. The field of education is ever-changing. It was endlessly frustrating to find textbooks already outdated on the first day of class.
DVS 101 & 103
Approximate student savings per semester: $7278
Which OER? Developmental Studies 101 (College Reading 2)-- currently in use Developmental Studies 103 (Advanced College Reading and Study Skills)-- future use
Why OER? I wanted to reduce the reoccurrence of students not having the textbook for various reasons, the main one being the high price of most textbooks. I wanted to offer a textbook that students could afford-- a free one!
Student comments: The students were excited that the OER was free.
SOC 101: Intro to Sociology
Approximate student savings per semester: $23,210
Which OER? OpenStax Sociolgy 2e
Why OER? Many of my students were not purchasing the textbook for class due to cost. I switched to a lower cost textbook but still had issues. With the OER every student has the book on Day 1. Students can better participate in classroom discussions and class time can involve discussions of the material.
Student comments: Many students have expressed appreciation for not having to purchase an expensive textbook. They seem to particularly like the app available for their phones.
MAT080, MAT090, in Fall 2020 MAT108
Approximate student savings per semester: $7857
Which OER? Openstax "Pre-Algebra", Openstax "Elementary Algebra", and Openstax "Intermediate Algebra"
Why OER? Students have access to the book on the first day of school, so I can assign homework assignments right away. Students already pay for the course; wouldn't it be amazing if that was all they had to pay for?
Student comments: "I love that it's free" "I had access to the book on the first day of class"
ENG 101: Composition I
Approximate student savings per semester: $5950
Which OER? OpenNowNon-Fiction Anthology and You, Writing!
Why OER? I was deeply concerned about textbook expense for students. I have used OER for the 2019-2020 academic year. I am using two OER resources now, but I am planning to augment them for the next school year.
Student comments: The students appreciate the savings and the fact we care about them.
CJC 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice, CJC 151 Criminal Justice Law, CJC 152 Criminal Justice Ethics
Approximate student savings per semester: $2360 fro CJC 101, for CJC 151 on all four campuses $37,200
Which OER? Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System, Criminal Law
Why OER? Save students money, but guarantee that they have the material needed for class. Eliminate any excuse for a student not to have read the required material for class.
Student comments: Students are not commenting, but are using the book. They point out discrepancies between the book, the class, or quiz.
ECO 102 / 103
Approximate student savings per semester: $21,175
Which OER? Macroeconomics by Lumen Learning, Microeconomics by Lumen Learning
Why OER? OER materials support student success by reducing a financial barrier to learning. In addition to the reduced cost, my resources promote student interest and engagement.
Student comments: Students comment that the Lumen material really helped them to learn by reinforcing concepts. One student wrote “The online textbook from Lumen Learning is excellent. Well organized and easy to follow with great examples. I was very impressed with the online content and organization. Hats off to Professor Davenport and CCAC for using it.”
SPH 101
Approximate student savings per semester: $450
Which OER? Public Speaking - The Public Speaking Project
Why OER? It was made available when I began teaching at CCAC.
CIT111, CIT217
Approximate student savings per semester: $4000 per semester
Which OER? Computer Organization and Design: The Hardware/ Software Interface, Fifth Edition by David A. Patterson and John L. Hennessy
Introduction To MIPS Assembly Language Programming by Charles W. Kann
Why OER? For CIT-111, there are many inexpensive or free resources (websites, trade paperbacks) on Java. There was no need for a specific book since I also provide many lecture notes and my own homework assignments. For CIT-217, the free online older edition satisfies the course requirements and is considered the "bible" on this subject matter.
Anatomy & Physiology BIO 161 and 161L
Approximate student savings per semester: $130,887 with Caroline Evans and Robert Ficco
Which OER? OpenStax Anatomy & Physiology Textbook and CCAC created Laboratory Manual
Why OER? Improving affordability and accessibility to course materials .
Student comments: "I have all my class materials on the first day - and can save money for day-to-day living expenses."
English 101
Approximate student savings per semester: $84,960 with Elizabeth Throesch, John Fantin, Koryn Noah-Patrick, Jeannie Schulte, and Ashleigh Fox
Which OER? English 101: Academic Writing: An Introduction (created by a team of CCAC English instructors)
Why OER? I wanted to provide my students quality materials but not compound the cost of higher education.
Student comments: My students appreciated not having to pay money out of pocket for a text.
Approximate student savings per semester: $1150
Technical Communications/English 103
Which OER? Tech Writing Handbook by Kyle Wiens and Julia Bluff
Why OER? I want to create quality courses that are affordable and accessible to students. Students find the OER accessible, up-to-date, and easy to read.
Student Comments: Students find the OER accessible, up-to-date, and easy to read.
BIO 161 and 162 - Anatomy & Physiology 1 & 2
Approximate student savings per semester: $130,887 with Joanna Kazmierczak and Robert Ficco
Which OER? OpenStax Anatomy & Physiology and a CCAC created lab manual.
Why OER? Publisher's textbooks were more expensive than the class. We needed a change.
Student comments: Students were so relieved to not have to purchase a textbook or lab manual - it helps them use the funds to cover tuition or costs at home.
Except where otherwise noted, Open Educational Resources at CCAC by Community College of Allegheny County Libraries is licensed
under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.