LibGuides: OPEN FL: For Students

The OER Student Advocate Packet

Download the OER Student Advocate Packet here!
The Student Advocate Packet by Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC) Library Services is licensed under CC-BY-NC-SA https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en unless otherwise noted.

Open Educational Resources (OER), are no cost learning objects, teaching resources (Free textbooks!) that faculty can use in place of a costly textbook or access code.

OER are free to access, saving students money.

Student advocacy for open educational resources (OER) and affordable course content is essential, meaningful work that can make huge impacts on OER programs. This quick, actionable messaging for students can fit into their packed schedules. Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC) Library Services developed this Student Advocate Packet, outlining three steps students can take that day to move their campus communities toward using open and affordable course content. This packet also contains further steps students can take if they have the time. Continue reading here or download a full copy of the OER Student Advocate Packet folder.

Save yourself and fellow students money, while improving equity and engagement in course materials, by being an advocate for open educational resources (OER) and zero textbook cost courses on your campus with these three easy steps!

STEP 1 - SHARE

For step 1, you're invited to share the word on OER. Some ideas include:

Posting on Social Media - Snap a picture, shoot a quick reel, create a thread, or post to any social media of your liking –
- @ someone who you think may help 
- Include #OPENFL and #OER
Talk about the benefits of OER and Zero Textbook Costs (ZTC) courses for you, fellow students or faculty
Print the student flyer and post to a campus board.

Here are some examples of social media shares:

STEP 2 - DISCOVER

For step 2, we encourage you to find an OER for a course you're taking or enroll in a ZTC course next semester.

If you are taking a course this semester or next you may be able to find an OER to supplement your learning goals.

Search the Student Open Access Resources (SOAR) Repository,
Discovery and Explore resources linked within this guide,
or contact your local librarian.

Looking for classes for next semester? Find a Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Course to add to your schedule.

STEP 3 - THANK

The last step ! Quick and easy right?

Privately or publicly thank faculty who adopt open textbooks or individuals who support OER and ZTC efforts on your campus. You may also reach out to your Department Heads, Student Body Leadership, and Senior Leadership and let them know you support the use of OER textbooks and encourage them to add more ZTC courses for your degree

We invite you to go beyond these steps and continue to advocate for OER and ZTC courses.

Encourage Faculty to use OER
Explore the OER Student Advocate Toolkit from OER Commons/Michelson 20MM Foundation
Present on the importance of OER or ZTC for you as a student.
Push for an OER policy on your campus.
Tell 3 students about OER and invite them to join you in advocating for OER.
Connect with a student PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) focused on affordable higher education.

For your convenience. we have pulled additional information together below for OER Student Advocates

University of Texas Libraries, Open Educational Resources
LibGuide with good infographics on OER cost.
Step Three: How to Advocate on Your Campus (BC Campus OER Toolkit)
BC Campus' chapter on student advocacy; presents a deeper dive for students wanting to do more on campus to promote use of OER.
Automatic textbook billing: An offer students can’t refuse?
Attending college in America is one of the largest expenses someone will have in their lifetime. For more than 30 years, textbook publishers have added to that financial burden by driving up textbook costs through a variety of tactics. The latest effort is to automatically charge students for textbooks on their tuition bill.
Student Government Toolkit
This toolkit provides the resources that student governments and state student associations need in order to bring open textbooks to their campuses and save students money.
Student PIRG Make Textbooks Affordable
“Our mission? Ensure that every student has access to the high quality learning materials they need — at little-to-no cost.”
– Kaitlyn Vitez – PIRG Higher Education Program Director
A Win for Student Choice: University of Central Florida stops Automatic Textbooks Billing Plan
In a win for student choice and textbook affordability, we applaud University of Central Florida’s decision to maintain the opt-in structure for the “First Day” textbooks program through Barnes and Noble.
Manifesto for OER: Tabling script, Page 16
Script for OER Advocates to use when manning a table at an open education event; starts on page 16.
OER and Accessibility
Our mission is to enable the community of accessible technology experts, advocates, and users to build an online community and collection of open education resources that can improve universal learning by facilitating the contribution and sharing of accessible technology information, expertise, and accessible online teaching and learning materials

Short Video on Skyrocketing Textbook Costs

Official Launch Video, May 15, 2023

Recording of OER SAP Launch
Thirty minute discussion of the OER Student Advocate Packet--how to use it and where to find it.

OPEN FL: For Students

OER are free to access, saving students money.

Short Video on Skyrocketing Textbook Costs

Official Launch Video, May 15, 2023

OPEN FL Home Buttons