With the pivot to online learning due to COVID-19, the need for and benefits of OER are even greater than before, as OER save instructors\u2019 time, help cash-strapped students, and provide immediate online availability and accessibility. To illustrate this, BCcampus created an <\/span>infographic showing the advantages of OER<\/a> and published the article <\/span>OER: Trial by COVID-19<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Regardless of the current situation, textbook costs for first-year engineering students can amount to hundreds of dollars per student\/year. The CFEYC includes courses from a variety of STEM disciplines that have already demonstrated high numbers of OER adoptions in B.C. <\/span>(e.g., physics, chemistry, and math).<\/p>\r\n As a number of engineering programs across B.C. are presently undergoing curriculum redesign as part of the CFYEC project, now is the perfect time to consider shifting to OER so that further reworking of the curriculum is not necessary down the road.<\/p>\r\n \r\n Excerpt from Blog Post: <\/span>Exploring an Open Path for First-Year Engineering<\/a><\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n With the pivot to online learning due to COVID-19, the need for and benefits of OER are even greater than before, as OER save instructors\u2019 time, help cash-strapped students, and provide immediate online availability and accessibility. To illustrate this, BCcampus created an <\/span>infographic showing the advantages of OER<\/a> and published the article <\/span>OER: Trial by COVID-19<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Regardless of the current situation, textbook costs for first-year engineering students can amount to hundreds of dollars per student\/year. The CFEYC includes courses from a variety of STEM disciplines that have already demonstrated high numbers of OER adoptions in B.C. <\/span>(e.g., physics, chemistry, and math).<\/p>\n As a number of engineering programs across B.C. are presently undergoing curriculum redesign as part of the CFYEC project, now is the perfect time to consider shifting to OER so that further reworking of the curriculum is not necessary down the road.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nBenefits for Engineering Faculty<\/h3>\r\nOER are editable, customizable<\/strong> and can be aligned with the curriculum. Materials can be easily updated when standards or curriculum changes and faculty have academic freedom<\/strong> to modify these materials. This includes a variety of materials including textbooks, test banks, activities and instructor materials such as power point slides.\r\n\r\nBenefits for Engineering Students<\/span>\r\n\r\nWhen a textbook is too expensive, it affects student success*: \u2022\r\n
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OER for Engineering Is Needed Now More than Ever<\/h3>\n