How BCcampus Leads the Way in OER Practices in Canada: Three Milestones

      General

The recent announcement by the provincial government announcing the release of 15 peer-reviewed post-secondary textbooks through Open Textbook Program is the latest accomplishment for BCcampus and its ongoing work than benefits students, instructors and institutions.

opdf funding awardedSince BCcampus’ inception in 2003, Open has been a key strategy.

Here’s what we’ve accomplished:

1. Online Program Development Fund (OPDF)

  • BCcampus is the lead agency of the online program development fund, which was established by the Ministry of Advanced Education in 2003.
  • From 2003 to 2012, $9.5M has been invested in the creation of open and reusable curriculum resources:
  • 153 grants awarded with 100 per cent participation across the post-secondary system.
  • 84 partnerships created – mostly inter-institutional but also with K-12, health authorities, not-for-profits, professional associations, e-learning companies, First Nations, and foundations
  • 48 credentials supported
  • 362 courses, 12 workshops, 20 web sites/tools and 425 course components (learning objects, labs, textbooks, manuals, videos) developed across almost all academic fields of study
  • 100 per cent  licensed for open and free sharing and reuse by BC post-secondary institutions. Available at http://solr.bccampus.ca

2. Creative Commons Canada (http://creativecommons.ca)

  • Creative Commons licenses work with copyright and allow the legal use, reuse, and redistribution of learning resources and open textbooks
  • BCcampus in collaboration with Athabasca University, and the Samuelson Glushko Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) at the University of Ottawa established a CC Canada Affiliate in March 2012

3. Open Textbook Program

  • July 2012: Minister Hon. Naomi Yamamoto presented OER concepts and the potential for public policy at a meeting of the Council of Ministers of Education Canada (CMEC).