Zero Textbook Cost - OER & Low Textbook Cost Classes: Steps to ZTC - OER & LTC

Decide to teach a ZTC-OER or LTC Class!

There are numerous ways to create a course that is Zero or Low Cost.

• Zero Textbook Cost - OER (ZTC - OER) --> All course materials are free and available online. 
• Low Textbook Cost (LTC) --> Total course materials are $50 or less.

• Copyright free materials - can be distributed to students by providing the URL or uploading a PDF.
• Copyright restricted - students can purchase the original publication or the instructor can provide access through a URL. Uploading a saved document and bookstore printing is prohibited.

Printing

• The library can print one full printout of a textbook (on-demand), to keep on reserve.
• The bookstore will print custom instructor course packets for students (which should be legally licensed to be used and shared). Price varies depending on the size, most are under $50.

Continue to self educate and participate in professional development for you discipline by viewing the resources from the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC).

1. Click this link

• View upcoming and archived Zero Textbook Cost- OER webinars

2. Click on Show Archived OERI Webinars

3. Use the search box to find a recording on your subject.

ZTC-OER and Instructor Created Teaching Materials:

1. Identify the materials you want to teach with
2. Locate the copyright license. 
3. If you found teaching materials on the OER Course Material tab, they are open access and copyright free use/public domain.
4. If you created your own course materials, use the Teaching with Material you Create tab on this guide to create a Creative Commons License.

Other:

1. If you found other teaching materials online or elsewhere
2. Refer to the copyright laws accordingly and see the example in the section below--- Examples with Identifying Copyright
3. If an item is listed as public domain, there is no rights reserved and you may use the item in your course.
4. If you are using an item that is restricted by copyright law:

a.  You may provide the students with the link/url for online access

b.  Do not upload the item as a saved document or pdf to distribute to students

c.  You must still list each item on the bookstore form to notify them of all course materials being used.

Examples with Identifying Copyright

1. Instructor wants to use The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin
2. Google search the story of an hour kate chopin pdf - this produces a link with a free online pdf
3. The instructor should examine the document and look for copyright information
4. It's clearly listed as: Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” originally published 1894
5. Navigate to a copyright law website
6. Read that anything published before 1924 is in public domain due to copyright expiration
7. Instructor should list this item on the bookstore form as a course material
8. The instructor can provide the source as a link or save and upload the pdf document for student use

If this item was restricted by copyright law (not in public domain):

1. The instructor will still list this on the bookstore form
2. The instructor can share the link/url with students for access but should not upload the item as a saved document/pdf.

Copyright Laws

Cornell University Library - Copyright Information Center

Copyright Laws of the United States

Fair Use Checklist Tool

https://www.lib.umn.edu/copyright/fairthoughts

1. The instructor will submit course teaching materials to the department secretary for approval.  
   • For example, the instructor can list their course material by item type, title, and url on a shareable drive such as LACCD Outlook OneDrive Excel or on a personal website. It must be accessible to the bookstore and items must not violate copyright laws. One shareable link is ideal.
2. The division secretaries will identify all ZTC-OER or LTC courses on the LAHC Bookstore Excel spreadsheet.
   • One shareable link per course is ideal for the bookstore form. 
3. A Class Note will be added to the schedule of classes:
   1. This is a Zero Textbook Cost - OER class.
   2. This is a Low Textbook Cost class, all course materials are $50 or less.
4. This procedure should be completed every semester and updated as needed.
5. Students will now be able to view and select classes that are listed as ZTC-OER or LTC during online registration from the drop down menu.
6. Students will now see a ZTC-OER or LTC image symbol next to the course in the pdf/print schedule of classes.

If you are using an official (textbook equivalent) OER material, you should add this information to the COR and have it linked to the bookstore repository list (that you should have submitted in Step 4 above).

Materials must be published within seven years. Exceptions include "classic texts" or "discipline texts" and should be noted as such in the COR. Lab science courses must include a lab manual. 

If you have questions, submit this form: ZTC-OER & LTC - Faculty Requests