As part of the BCcampus institutional grant, we secured matching funds to offer grants of up to $8500 CAD for projects which helped achieve Zero Textbook Cost. $33,500 in grants were awarded in total. You can read more about the other recipients on our blog.

What’s your name and position? What school(s) do you work for?

Hamid Talebi, I am an instructor at school of energy-CISA program. I teach enterprise network security and Advanced network security courses.

Why did you decide to pursue a Zero Textbook Cost approach?

I chose the Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) approach because I wanted to remove financial barriers for my students and make course materials more accessible. Many students face high costs for textbooks, which can limit their ability to engage fully with the course. By creating an OpenText book, I can provide all students with free, high-quality learning resources while ensuring they have immediate access to the content they need to succeed.

In a nutshell, could you describe your project?

My project involved creating an OpenText book tailored to the specific needs of my course. The book consolidates all essential materials, including lecture notes, examples, and supplementary readings, into a single, easily navigable resource.

How will the deliverable(s) from your project contribute to Zero Textbook Cost learning at BCIT?

The OpenText book directly supports ZTC learning by providing all required course content at no cost. Students no longer need to purchase expensive textbooks, which enhances equity and access in learning.

What advice would you give to a BCIT instructor considering adopting ZTC?

I would encourage instructors to start small, perhaps by identifying a few key resources they can make openly available, and then gradually expand to a full ZTC approach. In doing so, students enjoy the course materials.

What impact do you hope your ZTC project will have on BCIT students?

I hope this ZTC project will reduce financial stress, improve student engagement, and support academic success by providing a centralized, easily accessible learning resource. Ultimately, I want students to feel empowered and confident in their learning, knowing that the necessary materials are readily available and designed to meet their educational needs.