{"683382":{"#nid":"683382","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Low-cost courses: A Primer for Faculty","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAffordable learning and open educational resources (OER) are an important part of teaching at Georgia Tech, as course materials can add hundreds of dollars to a student\u2019s yearly costs. Choosing low or no-cost options can reduce financial stress, increase access, and improve engagement.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the past, faculty would place print monographs and course packs on hold for students in their classes as part of the course reserves system. In the digital age however, the range of Library services has expanded to include e-books, journals, streaming media, and tutorials. As such, the Library seeks to support everyone and works to reduce textbook costs by providing best quality materials for faculty and students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat Qualifies as No-Cost\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYour course is considered \u003Cstrong\u003ENo-Cost\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Eif students pay nothing out-of-pocket for required materials. Examples include:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/library.gatech.edu\/oer\u0022\u003EOpen Educational Resources\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ELibrary-licensed materials (books, eBooks, streaming media, articles, course equipment)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EInstructor-created or publicly available materials \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAny content that is free, legal, and accessible to all enrolled students\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat Qualifies as Low-Cost\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECourses are labeled \u003Cstrong\u003ELow-Cost\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Eif required materials cost \u003Cstrong\u003E$40 or less total\u003C\/strong\u003E. This can include:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETextbooks \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWorkbooks or manuals \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESupplemental study materials \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EPublisher access codes or digital tools\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECourse equipment\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow to Make It Happen\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/library.gatech.edu\/reading-lists\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUse the Library\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u2019s Reading Lists and Course Reserves\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe Library can help you identify, license, or acquire materials and place them on \u003Cstrong\u003ECourse Reserves\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Efor your students \u2014 at no cost to them. Contact\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:reserves@library.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ereserves@library.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E for more information.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/libguides.library.gatech.edu\/readinglists\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUpload a Reading List in Canvas\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECreate a Reading List for your course using the Reading List tool in Canvas to share course materials like articles, eBooks, and videos. It connects directly to the Library catalog, so you can easily add content that\u2019s already available to students at no cost. Everything shows up in one place on Canvas, making it simple for students to access what they need. It also helps ensure materials are legal to share and easy to update each semester.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/library.gatech.edu\/oer\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExplore OER\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ELook into\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/openstax.org\/\u0022\u003EOpenStax\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/merlot.org\/merlot\/\u0022\u003EMERLOT\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.galileo.usg.edu\/git1\u0022\u003EGALILEO\u003C\/a\u003E, and other open platforms. You can adopt, adapt, or create your own OER materials to meet your course needs.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMake Sure It\u2019s Licensed\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EOnly use content that is openly licensed (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/\u0022\u003ECreative Commons\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/library.gatech.edu\/copyright\u0022\u003Epublic domain\u003C\/a\u003E) or available through the Library. Avoid uploading PDFs unless you\u0027re sure they\u2019re allowed.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECalculate the Total Cost\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAdd up the full cost of materials students are expected to buy.\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E$0 = No-Cost\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E$40 or less = Low-Cost\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESecuring the Low- or No-Cost Designation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/registrar.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EContact the Registrar\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ELet them know your course qualifies and should carry the Low- or No-Cost designation.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatech.bncollege.com\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESubmit Materials to the Georgia Tech Bookstore\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EUpload your required materials in a timely manner so students have clear, updated cost info before registration.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENotify the Affordable Learning Librarian\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EShare your department\u2019s Low\/No-Cost course updates with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:danielle.evans@library.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EDanielle Evans\u003C\/a\u003E, Affordable Learning Librarian, to support tracking and outreach.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Learn about affordable learning and open educational resources"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAffordable learning and open educational resources (OER) are an important part of teaching at Georgia Tech, as course materials can add hundreds of dollars to a student\u2019s yearly costs.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Affordable learning and open educational resources (OER) are an important part of teaching at Georgia Tech, as course materials can add hundreds of dollars to a student\u2019s yearly costs."}],"uid":"28817","created_gmt":"2025-07-30 14:57:21","changed_gmt":"2025-07-30 15:02:56","author":"Jason Wright","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-07-30T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-07-30T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677529":{"id":"677529","type":"image","title":"Screenshot-2025-07-30-at-10.41.40-AM.png","body":null,"created":"1753887458","gmt_created":"2025-07-30 14:57:38","changed":"1753887458","gmt_changed":"2025-07-30 14:57:38","alt":"Open Educational Resources examples","file":{"fid":"261437","name":"Screenshot-2025-07-30-at-10.41.40-AM.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/30\/Screenshot-2025-07-30-at-10.41.40-AM.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/30\/Screenshot-2025-07-30-at-10.41.40-AM.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2217934,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/30\/Screenshot-2025-07-30-at-10.41.40-AM.png?itok=krGULN3x"}}},"media_ids":["677529"],"groups":[{"id":"47240","name":"Georgia Tech Library"}],"categories":[{"id":"42911","name":"Education"}],"keywords":[{"id":"175530","name":"Open Educational Resources"},{"id":"194697","name":"low cost resoruces"},{"id":"194698","name":"no cost resources"},{"id":"179214","name":"ebooks"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}