Open Educational Resource Grants offer opportunity for instructors to increase course material affordability, accessibility

Open Educational Resource Grants offer opportunity for instructors to increase course material affordability, accessibility

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Instructors with ideas for making their course materials more affordable, accessible or better aligned to how they want to teach are invited by the University Libraries to apply for the Open Educational Resources Grants supporting the adaptation and creation of Open Educational Resources.

Beginning this year, the University Libraries will lead an Open Educational Resources Grant Program as an annual opportunity in support of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Successful Teaching with Affordable Resources initiative. The program provides funding and support to help instructors develop course materials that reduce costs for students while advancing their teaching goals.

Individuals, teams, and departments can apply at three different funding levels:

* $2,000 to adapt, update, or combine existing open educational resources.

* $5,000 to author or create an original open educational resource.

* Up to $15,000 for multi-section courses and program-level conversions.

Projects can involve adapting an existing open textbook; creating new course materials; filling a gap where suitable materials don't yet exist; or redesigning materials across multiple course sections or an entire program. Grant recipients have access to expertise and support related to Open Educational Resources, pedagogy and instructional design, accessibility, copyright and publishing. Grant applications are due November 23, and will be made available soon through Nuramp.

Additionally, University Libraries will be hosting "The Cost of Knowledge in the Classroom: An Introduction to OER and OER Grant Opportunities at UNL" from 11 a.m. to noon Oct. 21 over Zoom as a part of their International Open Access Week programming. The session will explore what Open Educational Resources are, how they can benefit students and instructors, and what support is available at the university.

Participants will also learn about this year's Open Educational Resources Grant Program at the event and get practical advice for developing a strong proposal. The workshop is a chance to learn more, explore possibilities and ask questions about the resources. Register for the October session here.

Please see the OER Grant Program website for more information, and email Catherine Fraser Riehle with any questions.