Checklist of best practices for creating accessible resources.The Accessibility Checklist is adapted from BC Open Textbook Accessibility Toolkit, CC-BY 4.0 International License.
Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy
The goal of this accessibility toolkit, 2nd edition, is to provide resources for each content creator, instructional designer, educational technologist, librarian, administrator, and teaching assistant to create a truly open textbook—one that is free and accessible for all students. This is a collaboration between BCcampus, Camosun College, and CAPER-BC.
Material Type: Full Course
Accessibility guidelines can be confusing. The POUR principles of Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust can help. Each principle represents standards and guidelines for ensuring accessibility in digital materials and technologies. If you're acquiring or procuring materials and technologies for your classroom, district, or state, there are questions you can ask to make sure all students can use the materials selected.
Material Type: Reading
If you are new to accessibility, this resource is meant to be your entry point into the creation of accessible content with familiar tools such as Microsoft Office and Google Docs. You will learn about five practices (captured in the mnemonic SLIDE) that can have a significant impact on the learner experience for all students, especially those who rely on assistive technology for their access to the curriculum. Each of the practices is described in more detail in a playlist of closed-captioned videos with step-by-step directions you can follow at your own pace. Pause the videos, try things out, and reach out to staff at the National AEM Center at CAST if you have any questions. While the practices are explained in the context of creating an accessible document, with one exception (Styles) the techniques apply to slide decks as well.
Material Type: Reading
This collaboratively authored guide helps institutions navigate the uncharted waters of tagging course material as open educational resources (OER) or under a low-cost threshold by summarizing relevant state legislation, providing tips for working with stakeholders, and analyzing technological and process considerations. The first half of the book provides high-level analysis of the technology, legislation, and cultural change needed to operationalize course markings. The second half features case studies by Alexis Clifton, Rebel Cummings-Sauls, Michael Daly, Juville Dario-Becker, Tony DeFranco, Cindy Domaika, Ann Fiddler, Andrea Gillaspy Steinhilper, Rajiv Jhangiani, Brian Lindshield, Andrew McKinney, Nathan Smith, and Heather White.
Material Type: Case Study
A new law requires Texas colleges and universities to share information with students about courses that use open educational resources (OER). Now students should be able to search for courses that use only OER when they are registering for courses. This toolkit is a living document that can help Texas institutions implement course marking solutions. If your state or institution is considering similar policies, this toolkit can help you, too. The toolkit became a collaborative book project in Summer 2018. The open access book, Marking Open and Affordable Courses: Best Practices and Case Studies (co-edited by Sarah Hare, Jessica Kirschner, and Michelle Reed), was published by Mavs Open Press in 2020.
Material Type: Module
OER programs provide an opportunity for students to earn a certificate or associates degree without incurring the cost of textbooks for their courses. This can dramatically reduce the cost of attendance and has been estimated at 25% or more savings*. Most OER programs are developed to serve the neediest students who may otherwise have to defer college or take fewer courses due to prohibitive cost. Reaching the students who could most benefit most from enrolling in OER courses can prove to be a challenge in of itself. We will hear from speakers who have developed successful strategies at their colleges to create awareness and encourage underrepresented students to enroll in OER degree programs targeted at their academic success.
Material Type: Lesson
This report presents the results of a biennial independent survey done by the Institute for the Study of Knowledge Management in Education (ISKME) commissioned by the Digital Higher Education Consortium of Texas (DigiTex), in collaboration with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), to examine the landscape of Open Educational Resources (OER) programs, policies, and practices at higher education institutions in Texas.
Material Type: Reading
This module will provide a broad overview of OER across the state. This includes discussion of the results of a recent landscape survey by DigiTex, a snapshot look at recent Texas legislation related to OER, and a variety of examples from colleges and universities who are offering OER Degree pathways and OER courses across their curriculum.
Material Type: Module
This report is based on an independent survey commissioned in 2019 by the Digital Higher Education Consortium of Texas (DigiTex), in collaboration with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), and the Institute for the Study of Knowledge Management in Education (ISKME).
Material Type: Reading
During the 83rd Texas Legislature, Regular Session, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) was directed to undertake a study with the Virtual College of Texas (VCT) on the availability and use of open educational resources (OER) as described in Section 52 of the General Appropriations Act. Section 52. The 2014 report includes recommendations related to the following areas: - professional development programs to support faculty at institutions of higher education in using OER -how to establish a statewide digital repository for all OER developed with state funds -methods for encouraging the use of OER at public and private institutions of higher education
Material Type: Case Study, Reading
This toolkit provides guidance and considerations regarding an array of OER development and implementation topics. Key areas of focus include:Open licensesOpportunities and approaches to using third-party images and resourcesResource development planningInclusive, accessible, and equitable resourcesPeer review and revisionFinding and evaluating OERSharing and promoting OER The guide has a detailed table of contents, and is itself openly licensed for reuse and remixing.
Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy
