Interested in Creating a Zero-Cost Course?
Start with what already exists.
You don't have to create a textbook to create a zero-cost course. Many courses can become Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) by adopting or adapting existing Open Educational Resources (OER), using library resources, or combining several zero-cost resources.
The Library can help you find, evaluate, and use materials that meet the needs of your course while reducing or eliminating textbook costs for students.
These are the key things to remember:
Search first. Adapt when possible. Create when needed.
Not sure where to begin? Follow the steps below.
1. See What's Already Available
Before creating new materials, start by exploring resources that already exist.
Check BCC's Approved OER
An OER may already have been identified as an appropriate representative textbook for your course at Barstow Community College.
Search for Existing OER
If you don't find an approved OER for your course, explore available open textbooks and other teaching materials. BCC's Find OER page includes recommended collections and tools for locating OER in many disciplines.
Browse Resources for Your Subject
Looking for a place to start in your discipline? Explore recommended OER and zero-cost resources organized by subject.
Browse Approved OERS by Subject
Open Educational Resources and Open Access Sites by Subject
2. Ask the Library
Can't find what you need? Let us help.
You don't have to search for zero-cost materials on your own. The Library can help identify OER and other resources that may work for your course.
We can help you look for:
- Open textbooks and other OER
- Library eBooks
- Articles and database content
- Streaming video and media
- Public domain materials
- Supplemental instructional materials
- Other zero-cost alternatives to commercial course materials
When contacting us, it is helpful to include your course name and number, the textbook or materials you currently use, and anything specific you would like to find in a replacement resource.
3. Choose Your Path: Adopt, Adapt, or Create
Once you have explored available resources, think about which approach makes the most sense for your course.
Adopt
Found something that works? Use it.
An existing OER or zero-cost resource may meet your course needs with little or no modification.
Before adopting a resource, consider its quality, accessibility, licensing, and alignment with your course objectives.
Adapt
Found something that's almost right? Customize it.
One of the advantages of OER is the ability to customize openly licensed materials. Depending on the license, you may be able to:
- Select only the chapters you need
- Reorganize material
- Combine content from multiple OER
- Update examples or terminology
- Add locally relevant content
- Revise materials to better reflect your students and course
Always check the license before modifying or combining materials.
Create
Can't find materials that meet your needs? Creating new OER may be an option.
Before beginning a new OER development project, search existing OER collections and contact the OER team. We can help determine whether suitable materials already exist and provide guidance about licensing, copyright, accessibility, platforms, and available ZTC grant support.
Faculty interested in creating new OER should also consult the BCC Curriculum Committee to ensure that materials are appropriate for the course.
4. Evaluate the Materials
Finding a free resource is only the beginning. Before adopting, adapting, or creating course materials, consider the following.
Accessibility
Can all students access and use the materials?
Digital course content should be designed with accessibility in mind. Consider:
- Clear headings and document structure
- Alternative text for meaningful images
- Captions and transcripts for multimedia
- Readable and accessible PDFs
- Keyboard accessibility
- Appropriate color contrast
- Clear, understandable links and navigation
If you are unsure whether a resource is accessible, contact the Distance Education Office for assistance.
Copyright and Licensing
Do you have permission to use, modify, and share the material?
Something that is free to access online is not necessarily an OER and is not necessarily free to copy, modify, or redistribute.
Before using materials, determine whether they are:
- Openly licensed
- In the public domain
- Copyrighted but available through the Library
- Copyrighted and being used with appropriate permission
Creative Commons licenses allow creators to specify how others may use and adapt their work.
(Learn More About Copyright and Creative Commons)
Cost and Sustainability
Will the materials remain available to students at no cost?
Consider both the immediate cost and the long-term availability of your materials.
Ask:
- Are all required materials truly zero-cost to students?
- Will every student have reliable access?
- Does access depend on a library subscription or other service?
- Is the resource likely to remain available?
- If you create or adapt materials, who will update and maintain them?
A course does not have to use OER to qualify as ZTC, but students cannot be required to purchase course materials for a course to receive the ZTC designation.
Quality and Course Fit
Does the resource support what you want students to learn?
Consider:
- Accuracy
- Currency
- Relevance
- Organization
- Reading level
- Alignment with course objectives
- Availability of supporting materials
- Ease of use for students
- Ability to customize the material if needed
No single resource has to provide everything. You may be able to combine an open textbook with articles, videos, primary sources, library materials, or other resources.
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Anti-Racism
Whose perspectives and experiences are represented?
As you evaluate or develop course materials, consider whether students encounter a meaningful range of voices, perspectives, examples, identities, and experiences.
You may also want to consider whether the material:
- Avoids stereotypes or unnecessarily exclusionary language
- Represents diverse scholars, authors, and perspectives
- Provides examples relevant to a diverse student population
- Allows students to see themselves and their communities represented
- Provides opportunities to examine issues from multiple perspectives
5. Ready to Move Forward?
Complete the ZTC Grant Funds Request form to let us know you'd like grant funding to work on your resource. Once you have selected the materials you would like to use:
Check Course Appropriateness
If the OER has not previously been approved as an appropriate representative textbook for your BCC course, consult the Curriculum Committee before adopting it.
Confirm Student Costs
Make sure students will not be required to purchase any materials if the course will be designated ZTC.
Check Accessibility
Review digital materials for accessibility before they are provided to students.
Submit Your Course Materials
Record your textbook and other required course materials through BCC's course materials adoption process so students receive accurate information when registering for classes.
Add Materials to Your Course
Provide students with clear instructions and links for accessing their materials in Canvas or your other course materials.
Developing OER With ZTC Grant Funding?
Faculty developing or substantially adapting OER with California Zero Textbook Cost grant funding may have additional requirements.
Before beginning a grant-funded project, contact the BCC OER team for current requirements and guidance.
Areas to consider include:
Using Existing OER
ZTC projects should prioritize adapting existing OER when appropriate before creating entirely new materials.
Student Cost and Sustainability
All required materials must remain zero-cost to students. Projects that use grant funding to pay for resources should consider how those resources will remain available to students after grant funding ends.
Accessibility and Copyright
Grant-funded materials must comply with applicable accessibility and copyright requirements.
Open Licensing
Published materials produced using ZTC public funds are generally required to carry an appropriate Creative Commons license. The OER team can help determine licensing requirements for newly created, adapted, or remixed materials.
Statewide Sharing
Newly created and substantially adapted OER developed with ZTC grant funding must be shared through the appropriate statewide process. Depending on the extent of the adaptation, this may include submission to COOL4Ed or reporting through the ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative (OERI).
Collaboration
Before developing new materials, check whether similar OER is already available or currently being developed elsewhere in the California Community Colleges.
Contact the OER Team About ZTC Grant Projects
Need Help? Start Here.
Not sure whether OER or ZTC will work for your course? That's what we're here for.
Send us your course name and number and, if applicable, the textbook or materials you currently use. We can help you explore available OER, library resources, and other zero-cost alternatives.
BCC OER and ZTC Support
Kyri Freeman
OER Liaison and Librarian
kfreeman@barstow.edu
April Ayto
OER and ZTC Support Librarian
aayto@barstow.edu
Where Would You Like to Start?
View Approved OERs
See OER already identified for BCC courses.
Find OER
Search recommended OER repositories and collections.
Browse OER by Subject
Explore resources for your discipline.
Contact the OER Team
Get help finding or developing zero-cost course materials.
