The Newsstand: News & Happenings @MTA_Libraries

AtlanticOER Development Grants: Info Session and Call for Applications

AtlanticOER Development Grants Information Session 

Date: Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Time: 2-3 p.m. Atlantic

RSVP for the webinar.

Call For Applications 

The Council of Atlantic Academic Libraries is sending out a call for applications for the AtlanticOER Development Grants. Funding is provided by the four Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island).

What are Development Grants? 

AtlanticOER Development Grants are intended to provide financial support to instructors in the Atlantic Region with the process of creating and adapting new Open Educational Resources. Our goal is to support instructors to increase the availability of quality, free, openly licensed resources to support student learning.  

There are three different tiers of funding that you can apply for, depending on the scope of the project. The tiers are as follows: 

Tier 1: Creating an Open Textbook (up to $7,000) 

This funding is intended for the development of a new open textbook. The topic should not be covered in an already existing open textbook. This tier is meant for creation projects at a larger scale. 

Tier 2: Adaptation of an Existing Open Textbook (up to $4,000) 

This funding is intended for substantive adaptation projects. Sometimes, it can be possible to find an open textbook that covers foundational knowledge, but which needs to be adjusted. For example, the textbook might need adjustments to ensure it adheres to local educational standards, adjustments might be made to make it relevant to the local context (eg, an American business textbook may need adjustments to make it suitable for a Canadian business context), or new examples and interactive elements may be added to a book. 

Tier 3: Creation of Ancillary Materials (up to $1,000) 

This funding is intended for smaller creation projects. Ancillary materials can be defined as course materials that are meant to supplement and support a textbook. Examples of ancillary materials include: slide decks, interactive tutorials, and quiz and test banks. Often, ancillary materials can enhance student learning. 

Who Can Apply? 

Applications are open to individuals who are affiliated with a CAAL-CBPA member institution. In the case where an application is being submitted by a team, at least one team member must be affiliated with the member institution. The proposed OER must be intended for a credit bearing course at the member institution and at least one applicant must be affiliated with the course.  

What Can Funding be Used For? 

Funding can be used for the following activities: 

Support: funding can be used to financially support the hiring of another individual, such as an undergraduate research assistant, to assist with the project. Activities may include support uploading content into a Pressbook, technical expertise, support with designing any graphics that may be required. 

Events: funding can be used to finance events, such as sprints, that are used to generate the content for an OER. The funding can also be used to finance resources for the events such as facilities and refreshments. 

Funding cannot be used to pay the instructor for their work on the project nor can it be used to fund any administrative overhead. As part of the application, you will be asked to outline your expenses and a rationale for each expense. 

Application Requirements 

• A description of the proposed OER and the gaps that exist in already-existing openly licensed materials on the same subject. 
• Detailed assessment of the costs, including an itemized list of expenses along with a description of each expense. 
• A detailed timeline for the project, including milestones. 
• An assessment of the potential impact of the project on student experience and learning. Impact should include projected student savings. 
• A plan for maintaining the currency and relevancy after the end of the grant period. 

• Completion of required forms. 
• Applications can be submitted in either English or French. Applications submitted in French will be translated into English by the selection committee for the adjudication process. 

Evaluation Criteria 

Applications will be reviewed by members of the CAAL-CBPA OER Committee. The proposals will be assessed using a single blind approach. The AtlanticOER Lead will first review applications to ensure that proposals meet all requirements before the committee then assesses the proposals.  

Proposals will be judged on: 

• The overall quality and clarity of the application 
• The potential impact on student learning 
• The feasibility of the project 

During the review, the OER Committee will select successful applicants and will determine how much money each applicant will be awarded. In cases where the applicant has requested a tier of funding that does not match the scope and nature of their project, the OER Committee reserves the right to offer a different tier of funding.  

Expectations of Grant Recipients 

• The project must commence in the year that the applicant receives funding and must be completed in 2 years. 
• Applicants must apply a Creative Commons License to the resulting OER. 
• Applicants must make a commitment to make the resulting OER as accessible as possible. OER should be compliant with WCAG 2.0 guidelines. 
• The OER must be used in all subsequent semesters for the class in question. 

• A final report must be submitted to CAAL-CBPA within two months of completing the project or by the end of the 2 year grant period, whichever is the shortest time period. Recipients will be given a final report template that they will fill out.  
• The grant must be acknowledged in publications and presentations that are a direct result of the research or development accomplished through an AtlanticOER Development Grant. 

Application Timeline 

Applications are open starting on January 6^th 2025 The application period will close on February 14^th 2025. Review of the applications will start immediately thereafter. Successful applicants will be notified mid-March. At this time, successful applicants will be told which tier of funding they have qualified for and will be given a detailed document that outlines the expectations of grant recipients. Funds will be disbursed to the lead applicant’s institutional grant office or equivalent as a full lump sum in April.