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SPEAKER: Zero-cost textbook initiatives
are happening across California Community Colleges
and through the state legislature in important ways
to promote student success and retention.
Chaffey College is leading these initiatives with the Textbook
Transformation Project.
This video is meant to introduce the campus to what the Textbook
Transformation Project has been working on
so far, future goals, the student impact,
and how to get involved in this important initiative.
But to start, what do these terms even mean?
ZTC stands for Zero Textbook Cost.
The term ZTC is a course designation
showcasing that a course uses materials that
are completely free to users.
OER stands for Open Educational Resources.
OER material falls under the ZTC umbrella term
and is a course designation showcasing
that a course utilizes materials that
are free but also open access.
LCT refers to Low Cost Textbook.
A course is designated as LCT when
it uses materials that have a combined total cost that
is $50 or less.
That includes books, homework, websites, software,
lab manuals--
all of it, under $50 total.
Courses can also have the designation of NTR
meaning No Textbook Required.
This is used when courses do not have an assigned
textbook or any other bound educational resources
associated with it.
NTR material also falls under the ZTC umbrella term.
The traditional textbook model is
one a course uses materials that amount
to a total cost above $50.
As research has shown, the traditional textbook model
creates barriers to access for students
that result in inequitable educational experiences
and decreases student success.
So why is this beneficial to students?
Courses that utilize ZTC materials
have been proven to benefit students success in learning
outcomes, accessibility to materials,
retention in higher education, and higher engagement in course
material.
Student voices have propelled the zero textbook cost
initiatives across the state.
Students thrive in classes that use zero
and low-cost textbooks, stating it alleviates complications,
helps them stay organized, and maximizes their time
and efficiency.
Students of color are more likely to take
on majors that seem out of reach because of program
costs within STEM fields, and women
are more likely to enter the workforce
at faster rates due to earning higher degrees through ZTC
degree pathways.
This is why Chaffey is committed to the Textbook Transformation
Project.
The Textbook Transformation Project team
has identified key high-impact courses
across seven departments, and from three academic and career
communities for its first cohort.
Over the course of the fall 2021 semester, focus groups
were held with full-time faculties
from each of the seven departments
to evaluate course materials needs and impressions
on ZTC material.
In addition, an anonymous survey was sent out
to the entire department to better understand
how to facilitate zero or low-cost textual options
for these key courses.
This semester, Spring of 2022, a [? FOSO ?]
will be disseminated looking for TTP
coaches to serve as the discipline
experts in these seven departments to pilot the zero
and low-cost materials in those specific courses.
There will be a spring a ZTC challenge
to in collaboration with DE.
In addition, we'll be creating a ZTC certification
that faculty can participate in across the disciplines.
Soon after piloting material in these seven courses,
we will transition to cohort two and so on,
continuing to work alongside discipline experts
to identify and utilize course materials that
fit within the zero or low-cost model.
The Textbook Transformation Project has two ultimate goals.
The first, to create ZTC degree pathways
where students can walk away with a Chaffey degree
with little to no course material costs.
The second is to create what we are calling TTP super courses,
courses that utilize zero and low-cost textbooks
to advocate for the success, retention,
and generational achievement of students of color
and all students, select and create accessible course
materials, are focused on student impact
and present a diverse representation of voices,
build in equity-based assessment tools
by integrating ACEs and ILOs, build material that
meets the universal design of learning to facilitate
student-centered approach, and have materials that
are transitional between face-to-face,
distance education, hybrid, and everything in between.
So how can you get involved?
Well, you can start by learning more about OER and ZTC
and even low-cost textbooks options through the Spring DE
challenge.
Once the certification modules are up and running,
get ZTC certified.
You can apply to become a TTP coach.
When we come to your departments either in this cohort
or future cohorts, participate in our focus groups.
Complete the anonymous surveys, and help us out.
Each of your voices and discipline expertise
is vital to the success of this project.
We want to remind you that your participation in this project
is completely optional and up to each of you.
Retaining academic freedom is extremely
important to all of us.
However, with all of the data showing all of the ways
that this helps students, the question
is not why you should do this, but why shouldn't you
be doing this?
Advocacy is an action.
The choices are yours.
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