Using the Library | OER Textbooks and ZTC Courses

FAQ for OER and ZTC

FAQs for Faculty Interested in Using Hostos ZTC/OER Textbooks

1. What does ZTC/OER stand for?

2. What ZTC/OER Textbooks are available for Hostos courses?

3. Where did these materials come from? Who created them? Are these high quality textbook alternatives?

4. If I’m interested in adopting one of these ZTC/OER textbooks, what are my next steps?

5. How do I provide my students with access to these materials?

6. What if I’m interested in creating/curating new ZTC/OER Textbooks?

❓ What does ZTC/OER stand for?

ZTC stands for “zero textbook cost” and refers to materials that are freely available for Hostos students to use at no cost. These may be materials that are made available through a subscription or purchase by the Hostos Library, or they may have an “open” license that authorizes their use, or it could simply be that the copyright owner has chosen to make these materials freely available on the Internet.

OER stands for “open educational resources” and usually refers to materials that have an “open” license. More information at Got Copyright Questions?.
 

❔ What ZTC/OER Textbooks are available for Hostos courses?

For a information about all ZTC/OER Textbooks, please visit our ZTC/OER Textbooks List.
 

❓ Where did these materials come from? Who created them? Are these high quality textbook alternatives?

Most of these materials were created, compiled, and adapted by your faculty colleagues at Hostos, with Hostos courses and Hostos students in mind. A few of those listed are OER textbooks that were created by faculty at other institutions and adopted/adapted by your colleagues to fit a specific Hostos course. In some cases these have been put through a peer-review process.
 

❔ If I’m interested in adopting one of these ZTC/OER textbooks, what are my next steps?

A Few Next Steps

• Work with a Course Manager and/or Unit Coordinator as you may want to check in with them to see if there are any course-specific requirements for textbook selection.
• Consider how you will provide your students with access to the materials.
• Designate your course section as a ZTC/OER section in CUNYFirst. ZTC Course Designation allows students to search for these courses in the Schedule of Classes.
   

❓ How do I provide my students with access to these materials?

A Few Options

• You can share the link to the ZTC/OER Textbook from our ZTC/OER Textbooks List within Blackboard or by some other means.
• You can share links to specific parts of the ZTC/OER Textbook (e.g., units, chapters, documents, webpages, etc.).
• You can use the Springshare LTI tool to embed the ZTC/OER Textbook within your Blackboard shell.
   

❔ What if I’m interested in creating/curating new ZTC/OER Textbooks?

Contact the Initiative Coordinator Professor Kate Lyons. We would love to work with you to develop new ZTC/OER resources. This program has been so valuable in the real savings it has provided for our students. Stipends may be available for this work, depending on funding. 

Visit Hostos OER Projects for further information.