ZTC for Faculty

The high cost of textbooks continues to be a barrier for Cañada College students. Inability to afford textbooks and course materials is an equity issue.

  • What is the role of faculty in this pursuit?
  • How can we as educators find and make use of ZTC resources to create equitable courses?

Help make impactful changes! Decrease barriers and increase equitable access to education by choosing textbook affordability solutions such as zero-textbook cost materials (ZTC) and open educational resources (OER).

students studying in the college library

Why choose ZTC?

Affordable textbooks will reduce equity gaps and help students avoid unpredictable and frequently rising prices of textbooks and course materials. Join us in this ZTC revolution that empowers student equity and supports faculty voice and choice.

Find ZTC Materials

There are many Zero-Textbook Cost Resources for your courses and the list is always growing. You may not find an all-in-one textbook, however, expand your search to locate various open resources for the specific content of your course.

Tip: Searching for these materials takes time and persistence, just like research!

As you search for ZTC materials, consider what criteria you will use to select appropriate open resources your course.

Tips:

  • Take a look to see if someone else has created OER materials, complete OER course or textbook. Example: Go to the OpenStax and browse their open textbooks.
  • Check the Cañada College Library for e-books, videos, articles, and other material.
    Let your learning objectives be your guide. Instead of focusing on the textbook that you would like to replace, focus on what you would like students to know or be able to do. College a topic search Example: instead of searching for “biology” materials, search for concepts “cell structure” or “DNA” or “evolution” materials.
  • Check for feedback, reviews, or endorsements of OER and ZTC by your discipline community.
  • Not finding what you are looking for? Ask your ZTC Team.

Few existing open educational resources will meet all your instructional needs so you may want to customize the open resources you have selected. Consider the following ways you may want to modify the open resources to make it more appropriate for your teaching style:

  • Combine two or more open OERs and package with ZTC materials to create one full course package.
  • Rearrange or remix the content in an open resource.
  • Add glossaries, hyperlinks, and test bank.
  • Make edits to an open resource to improve accuracy and relevance for your course.
  • Make content accessible for students with visual impairments.

If you are ready to take the next step and create your own OER, contact the ZTC Team.

Share your OERs in either digital or print format with students in your course. Be sure to give your students clear instructions about appropriate use of printing services on your campus. Try to coordinate with the student computer labs, library, bookstore, and print shop on your campus.

Do-It-Yourself

  • Share ZTC or OER website address or document file to Canvas.
  • Email the website address of the OER or ZTC materials to your students.
  • Download the open educational resource as a file (e.g., Word, Open Office, PDF). Email the file to your enrolled students.
  • Share your ZTC or OER materials for  Skyline Library Reserves

District Printing Services (SkyGAP)

  • Partner with the SkylineGAP to produce low-cost print options.