Open Education Week: Making Sense of "Affordable" Course Materials Models

Institutions are continuously hearing about new models and strategies for making course materials more affordable to students. The ever changing nature of technology and digital resources can make it hard to cut through the buzzwords and understand the real details of each “pitch” and the potential impact on students. This session will outline the facts and characteristics of common models to make course materials more affordable and untangle some of the arguments that come up in meetings with outside vendors. The goal is to help participants establish a deeper understanding of each model and develop effective strategies for engaging in discussions about these models on campus that center students and equity.

This session is open to staff, members, and invited guests of CARLI and the Professional Development Alliance. 

Register to attend.

Presenters:

Nicole Allen

Nicole Allen is the Director of Open Education for SPARC. In this role she leads SPARC’s work to advance openness and equity in education, which includes a robust state and federal policy program, a broad librarian community of practice, and a leadership program for open education professionals. Nicole was inspired by the idea of open education as an undergraduate student, and has dedicated her decade-and-a-half career to advancing the vision of a world where everyone, everywhere has access to knowledge. Now an internationally-recognized advocate and leading voice in the movement for open education, she has been widely cited in the media and has given hundreds of talks and trainings in more than two dozen countries. Nicole graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 2006 with a Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy. She is based in Providence, RI. 

Katie Steen-James

Katie Steen-James is the Manager of Public Policy & Advocacy at SPARC where she is responsible for promoting policy and coalition activities to advance SPARC’s commitment to making Open the default in research and education. In this role, she works with the entire SPARC team to develop SPARC’s policy goals and priorities, and leads the organization's implementation of federal and state advocacy strategies. Previously, Katie served as a federal relations officer at the Association of American Universities (AAU) where she led advocacy on policy issues ranging from humanities and foreign language education to agricultural research. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri where she earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and her master’s degree in public affairs with an emphasis in public policy. Katie is based in Chicago, IL. 

Visit the CARLI Open Education Week 2023 webpage to view additional webinars and activities happening March 6-10!