Textbook Affordability Programs That Work! Get Started at Your Own Campus.

Pre-Conference Workshop Session 1
HBCU MERLOT Community College

Brief Abstract

Learn how to design your campus’ Textbook Affordability Program by adapting California State University’s strategies. 

The fee for this Pre-Conference Workshop is: $205 Early Bird / $235 Full Price

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Presenters

Lead Presenter: Gerry Hanley, California State University - Long Beach/ MERLOT/ SkillsCommons

Gerard L. Hanley Ph.D. is the Executive Director of MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching, www.merlot.org) and SkillsCommons (www.skillscommons.org) for the California State University, the Director for the Center for Usability for Design and Accessibility and Professor of Psychology at California State University, Long Beach. At MERLOT and SkillsCommons, he directs the development and sustainability of the international consortium and technology strategy to provide open educational services to improve teaching and learning and continues to development the US Department of Labor's open repository of educational resources for workforce development. Gerry's previous positions include Assistance Vice Chancellor for Academic Technology Services at the CSU Office of the Chancellor, the Director of Faculty Development and Director of Strategy Planning at CSU, Long Beach.

Co-presenter: Moustapha Diack, Southern University-Baton Rouge & Director MERLOT Africa Network

Professor Moustapha Diack is the Associate Vice President for Online Learning Services for the Southern University System (SUS) and Director of Professional Development Services for Southern University Baton Rouge (SUBR). He is Chair of the Practitioners Summit for Advancing Affordable Learning Solutions and Quality Online Education for HBCUs, integral part of the OLC/MERLOT International Conference. His research interests at Southern University are in the areas of Instructional Design, cognitive theory of multimedia learning and the strategic planning and deployment of online learning systems to enhance student learning outcomes. Diack has extensive experience in the areas of online learning design and delivery and has played a global leadership role in the areas of Open Education and Open Access. He is recipient of the International MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resources for Learning and Online Teaching) Innovation Award 2009. He is member of the MERLOT Faculty Development Editorial Board and Co-Founding Director of the MERLOT Africa Network (MAN), a network of African higher education institutions and digital scholars engaged in the research, development and implementation of open education. At the SUS, Diack oversees the development and implementation of integrated digital library services, the Southern University Online Library for Education (SUOL4ed), to facilitate quality online programs development and college affordability through the adoption of open education resources and open textbook. Diack is member of the Louisiana Board of Regents Task Force On Electronic Learning and Past President 2003-2006 of the Louisiana Academy of Science and also Member of the Quality Matters (QM) International Advisory.

Co-presenter: Leslie Kennedy, California State University-Office of the Chancellor

Leslie Kennedy, Ed.D., Director, Affordable Learning Solutions (AL$) at the CSU Office of the Chancellor provides strategic planning and project and vendor management in support of AL$ initiatives and leads a number of campus and system-wide collaborations. Previously, Leslie served as the director of instructional technology support services at CSULB, engagement and user community relations manager for WebCT, and was tenured faculty at Fullerton College. She has an MA in Linguistics and a second Masters in Online Learning and Teaching. Her doctorate is in educational leadership in higher education with a focus on supporting mainstream faculty adoption of instructional technologies. Her work and education background includes a unique combination of relevant vendor experience, project management of diverse academic technology projects and teams, and first-hand experience as a faculty member which enables her to provide vision and guidance to AL$.

Tags

OLC Accelerate 2017 Institutional Strategies and Globalization Best practices

Extended Abstract

The affordability of course materials is a significant barrier for student success. For example, about 48% of students take fewer units per semester due to the cost of textbooks (2016 Florida Virtual University survey).  Strategies for improving the affordable choices of course materials for CSU students have become an important part of a campus’ graduation Initiative. When the total cost of education is more affordable, students can take more units per semester, graduate in less time, providing greater access to a CSU education to more of our citizens.  

Beginning in 2010, the CSU has implemented its Affordable Learning Solutions (AL$) Initiative to significantly reduce the course materials for its students. The workshop will provide participants with strategies they can adopt and adapt for their plans for their own campus’ Affordable Learning Solutions Initiative.  Participants should bring their own devices as we review a suite of the CSU’s open online tools and resources at http://affordablelearningsolutions.org, www.cool4ed.org, and www.suol4ed.org (Southern University’s adaption of the AL$ program)

 The CSU’s AL$ initiative has 4 major components:

1. LEVERAGE CONTENT PROVIDERS to provide a large collection of educational content for all of your faculty.  Use publishers' materials, library resources, OER, and faculty authored materials as the foundation of your program.

2. CREATE CONVENIENCE for faculty and students by enabling the discovery and adoption of affordable learning resources with technology that is usable, convenient, and affordable

3. DEVELOP DEMAND by the faculty and the students to want the no-cost and low-cost course materials through outreach, marketing, professional development, training, and support services

4. ENABLE ECOSYSTEMS through the leadership of your institution, the development of policies, and the adoption of innovative business models.

The workshop will have participants:

  1. Explore a variety of FREE online libraries managed by the California State University which any institution can use immediately for their own program
  2. Explore strategies for institutionalizing an Affordable Learning Solutions initiative within their own campus context.
  3. Identify the organizational changes that might be needed to implement their own AL$ initiative.
  4. Discuss the prospective challenges and benefits faced by the faculty, staff, students and administrator if the campus implemented an AL$ program.  
  5. Learn how the CSU has addressed the accessibility of the etextbooks
  6. Draft a project plan for their own AL$ program            

This workshop is also part of the MERLOT-OLC HBCU Textbook Affordability Initiative and HBCU institutions are especially welcome to participate in the workshop.