An Introduction to Affordable Learning Materials

Take a look at the required textbooks in your syllabi and ask yourself: "Are these books still required or are they suggested readings?" "Have I posted the required readings on Moodle for the students? Do they need to purchase them?" "Am I only using a portion of the required readings? Should I put these on Course Reserves in the Library?"

Do you want to ensure that your students have access to reading materials on the first day of class? Do you only need a portion of a textbook as required reading? Rather than have your students purchase it, consider putting a copy on reserve in the Library or make an electronic copy available through our eReserves. Students can check out the materials and read what's needed or they can scan it to refer to it later. Learn more about Course Reserves and scanning requests

Instead of having students purchase a book for your class, consider using books (print and electronic) already available through the Library. Search in Faculty Select to find eBooks with licenses that allow you to share them freely with your students. Ask with the Library to purchase a book to place on Course Reserve.

We may have a suggestions for resources already available from the Library or we might be able to direct you to external sites to find free, open access, materials for your classes. We can help you.

Get your orders in early to the bookstore. This ensures that required textbooks are listed in Self-Service when students go to there to find out what they need for your class. This allows students to shop around for the best prices or to purchase it at the Bookstore before classes start. The Bookstore will also list Open Educational Resources in Self-Service and provide inexpensive print versions if they are available.

Students don't have access to their course on Moodle until a week prior to the start of the first day of class. Send an email to your students as early as possible letting them know which materials are reuired for your class. Give them time to shop around to find the best prices. Make sure your syllabi are up-to-date and that your Required Readings are still valid. Let your students know if it's okay for them to use an older edition of the textbook.

Updates to editions are usually minor. Consider sticking with older editions of textbooks if possible; they are much less expensive.

There are concerns about requiring students to use publisher produced materials that accompany textbooks (e.g. homework assignments, slides, study materials, etc.). Often times an Access Code is needed to get to the materials. Access Codes are either bundled in the price of the book or they require an additional purchase: (1) Access Codes eliminate no-cost pathways that students rely on (2) Access Codes eliminate Low-cost alternatives that students rely on. (3) Access codes create a direct link between the ability to pay and the ability to get good grades. Additionally, Students often times don't use the Access codes and access codes are often single-time use so the sell back value of the book is decreased. Read more about Access Codes in Access Denied.

Don't require students to print out all of your class notes, slide decks, syllabi, etc. Printing large quantities of materials can be costly as well as wear down the printers more quickly.