Attempts to simultaneously reduce cost while also improving student learning are often unsuccessful, particularly when implemented at scale. Combining Open Educational Resources (OERs) with next generation courseware, such as Waymaker (which is available free of charge to all SUNY students), holds the potential to make college more affordable while also boosting student learning.

This session will provide an initial overview defining OERs and offering examples of how faculty in SUNY are combining OERs with the Waymaker analytics-based technology platform. Results of faculty research on both cost savings and impact on student success factors, such as final course grades, will be shared. The session will include a demonstration, including the SUNY Ready to Adopt Catalog at oer.suny.edu, and a Q&A.

Waymaker was originally developed under a Gates Foundation Next Generation Courseware Challenge grant and is now used by thousands of students around the country. Findings from a national study conducted as part of the grant will be presented.