FAQs:

1. Is there a difference between OER and ZTC?

   1. Yes, yes there is! Unfortunately these terms are often used interchangeably, and third parties will use "open" when they mean "free to use". So lets talk about the difference. 

2. Define OER and ZTC (expanded)

   1. OER - Open Educational Resources, this means they are open, no barriers to access them, and they will be under some version of a creative commons license. Example: CC-BY, CC-BY-NC. If you have to log in to a third party app, to access content, even if it is free, it is NOT an OER, because it is not OPEN. If you have to make an account and log in, that is a barrier to access. OERs are OPEN and relate to the access of this content. Ask yourself, are there any barriers to access this content? If the answer is no barriers of any kind, then it is an OER. 

      1. Example: Link to Pressbooks directoryLinks to an external site. with the key words "how to OER". Example of an online Libretext book Mastering Open Ed

   2. ZTC- Zero Textbook Cost. These resources are zero cost to students. Sometimes this just means making an account, logging in and accessing the resources, other times this might mean the school or institution purchases a class set with semester long check outs and therefore it is free to students but still under copyright. The best way to define this one is to ask yourself, does it cost the student anything? If the answer is no, it is free to students, then it is a ZTC.  

      1. Example of ZTC: Adobe Education ExchangeLinks to an external site.

   3. So which one do we use when referring to these resources? ZTC is the umbrella term, because an OER is always free to students, but a ZTC is NOT an OER. Therefore most institutions use the ZTC as the umbrella term because it encompasses both kinds of resources. 

3. Which is better OER or ZTC? OER is always going to be preferred because it is more sustainable. A ZTC relies either on funds to purchase a class set which can only be used for five years (this is an articulation rule), or a third party resource that often is still under a kind of copyright and lacks our ability to store, distribute and use, and which might evaporate if that ZTC host disappears. 

4. Why use? Better student outcomes, close achievement gaps, more equitable access to educational resources, every student starts out first day of class with book in hand, or on their computer ready to start with what they need. (This will be explored in further detail in later pages.)

5. Students need the ability to make informed decision at time of registration, thus we use ZTC Badging on section level courses. This also relates to the Higher Education Act. See a common ZTC logo below: 

Next up Finding OER →