South Carolina Affordable Learning (SCALE) has launched the Professor for Affordable Learning (PAL) Award. The program aims to recognize faculty around the state who are making the decision to use zero-cost course materials so that their students can all have the necessary resources on the first day of class. A study by the Student PRIGs showed that 65% of students have decided to not purchase a textbook due to it being too expensive and that the cost of textbooks can have an effect on the classes students choose to take. A faculty member who adopts affordable resources makes that class accessible to all students.
In addition to recognizing faculty, this program will enable PASCAL’s Affordable Learning Task Force to create a searchable database of faculty recommended affordable resources being used in the state. One of the biggest challenges for faculty is finding quality affordable resources. Creating a database of quality resources vetted by faculty around the state will provide a starting point for any faculty looking to adopt affordable resources for their class.
Faculty members at any PASCAL member institution can apply by visiting the SCALE website and completing the Professor for Affordable Learning application. Applicants will be asked to provide details on the affordable resources they are using. Affordable resources can include Open Educational Resources (OER), materials that the library licenses or owns, or other zero cost materials. The Affordable Learning Task Force will verify the resources with the faculty member’s local librarian. The faculty member will receive a certificate, a PAL sticker, and will be recognized on the SCALE web site.
Marketing material will be sent out to each libraries Affordable Learning contact so that they can email faculty on their campus to promote the program. At this time there is no end date to the program so faculty can apply at any time throughout the semester.
If there are any questions about the program please contact Amy Trepal (atrepal@pascalsc.org).
0 Comments.