Gateways to OERs: Scaffolded Strategies for Success

Abstract

This article is focused on Phase Three of a multi-phase project aimed at breaking down barriers to open educational resources (OER) at Penn State Altoona. Phases One and Two, featured in a C&RL News article in 2022, were centered on strategies to find, secure, and promote library-licensed e-books as a mechanism to bridge faculty to the idea of open access. With that foundation in place, the next step is to transition faculty members to greater independence with OERs. This phase employs the use of a two-year Action Plan with seven goals designed to meet that end. Each goal helps to raise a higher awareness of and increased support for the adoption of OERs. Collectively, these measures will support our objectives of increased student retention and attracting new students to our campus by offering zero or low-cost course materials.