Open Learning West Virginia Grant
A fifth round of the Open Learning West Virginia Grant is now open. Grant applications will be accepted through February 17, 2023. Please apply here.
From the Overview:
The Open Learning WV grant opportunity from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System is intended to help eliminate the high cost of course materials for students and, ultimately, improve outcomes. Faculty who are seeking to create or adopt open education resources (OER) for use in a college course are eligible to apply for a $1,000 grant to support their efforts.
The use of OER as an alternative to traditional high-cost textbooks is gaining momentum across the country and here in West Virginia. As you may know, the state legislature has passed bills to encourage use of OER. And now, especially considering the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic downturn, efforts to make college more affordable for students and their families have never been more important.
In fact, this is the fifth round of grant funding of the Open Learning WV program. The innovative faculty awarded this grant have already saved students well over $600,000 dollars in just four semesters of implementation. Students are reporting that they feel relief when they know they don’t have to purchase a textbook or other course materials. One student who experienced an OER course said, “It was extremely beneficial having the [open education] materials that were given in this specific course. I think other courses should consider taking the same or a similar approach. Required textbooks can be very expensive and at times unnecessary. This approach relieves students from the stress and hassle of purchasing textbooks.”
WVer – West Virginia Electronic Resources Steering Committee
Information about this committee can be found on the West Virginia Library Commission's Open Educational Resources Guide or Open Learning WV.
Open Textbook Review
Annually, we host an Open Textbook Review Workshop – a one hour session where you can discover open textbooks in your field. After the workshop, you will be asked to write a short review of an open textbook. Your review will benefit other faculty considering open textbooks. You’ll receive a $200 stipend for your participation and a written review.
For more information, email Martha Yancey at Martha.Yancey@mail.wvu.edu or check out past workshop details:
- Open Education Network Faculty Workshop, March 9, 2023
- Open Education Network Faculty Workshop, March 10, 2022
- Open Textbook Network Faculty Workshop, March 4, 2021
- Open Textbook Network Faculty Workshop, March 5, 2020
- Open Textbook Network Faculty Workshop, March 7, 2019
- Open Textbook Network Faculty Workshop, March 8, 2018
- Open Textbook Network Faculty Workshop, Sept 7, 2016