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Open BCIT Grants

Open Education Grants 2025

Call for Proposals

BCIT instructors and faculty are invited to submit proposals for grants that support the creation of open educational resources (OER) in credit courses. Several grants are available this year. The objective is to empower educators to create accessible, high-quality, and sustainable resources that reduce financial barriers for students. Collaboration across the institute is encouraged.

Examples of past open education projects can be viewed in BCIT’s Institutional Repository or in our showcase.

Current opportunities:

 

OER Development Grants (up to $5,000) – CLOSED

This grant supports instructors in creating, licensing, and publishing educational educational materials as Open Educational Resources (OERs).

Develop open-license learning materials:

  • create an open-license learning resource in any subject or format (such as textbooks, lecture videos, podcasts, assignments, H5P, multimedia content, or other teaching resources.)
  • make substantial revisions to existing OER to better suit class subject matter and learning outcomes.

Available Support:

While the LTC and the Library can provide learning design, accessibility, and technology support for funded grant projects, you are expected to create the materials.

Some things to keep in mind when applying for Open Education Grants

The call for proposals closed Monday, February 17, 2025.

Grant Application Form

OER Licensing Grants ($2500) – CLOSED

This grant supports instructors in openly licensing and publishing educational educational materials they have already created as open educational resources (OERs). The objective is to empower educators to share their work with other instructors at BCIT and beyond, enabling free access to high-quality learning materials.

Project Phases:

  • OER Licensing: Apply an open license (e.g., Creative Commons) to original educational materials you have created or fully own, such as textbooks, lecture videos, podcasts, assignments, H5P objects, multimedia content, or other teaching resources.
  • OER Preparation: Develop your materials for publication to meet accessibility standards (including alt text and captioning) and ensure that they are ready for wide distribution via open repositories.
  • OER Publication: Work with an open education librarian to publish to the BCIT Institutional Repository.

Requirements:

  • Materials must be entirely owned by the applicant or created by them without third-party restrictions.
  • Licensed materials must be published under a Creative Commons licence, ensuring that they are free to use, adapt, copy, and share.
  • All materials must be eligible for open licensing. Copyrighted materials not owned by the applicant, such as photos and diagrams, must be replaced by open-licence materials or be recreated.
  • Licensed materials must be fully accessible, requiring additional work to write alt text, edit images, caption video and podcasts, etc.

Available Support:

  • Library Assistance: Work with an open education librarian to navigate copyright considerations, select appropriate licensing options, and prepare materials for OER publication.

These funds are distributed as Flexible Learning contracts so are subject to tax and benefits deductions.

Please see below for some things to keep in mind when applying for Open Education Grants.

The call for proposals closed Monday, February 17, 2025. 

Grant Application Form

Some things to keep in mind when applying for Open Education Grants

  • All learning materials developed with the support of a BCIT Open Education Grant must be openly licensed and deposited in the BCIT Institutional Repository.
  • Avoid projects focused on the use of proprietary software because they are difficult for users to access and revise.
  • Proposed projects that use proprietary software for development are generally not considered to be open educational resources as it can be difficult for users to access and revise the content.
  • Develop learning materials using platforms and formats that are as open and editable as possible. Grantees are encouraged to develop their project in PressBooks, when possible, because the platform is open and is supported by BCcampus.
  • Include in your proposal information on platforms and formats that will be used for the project.
  • If using closed formats, make sure that your submission to the BCIT Institutional Repository includes editable files, such as MP4s for videos.
  • Check what is already available on the topic you are proposing. You may want to build upon an already existing OER.
  • Explicitly acknowledge use of AI tools such as ChatGPT, if applicable, and describe how these tools will be used. Applicants will meet with an Emerging Technology Librarian to address ethical concerns.
  • Familiarize yourself with accessibility guidelines and incorporate best practices while developing your grant project. Check out the BCcampus Accessibility Toolkit.
  • Please review BCIT’s Open Education Best Practices and Guidelines.
  • Grant money cannot be used for travel expenses or to purchase or rent equipment, hardware, or software.
  • Open Education Grant funds distributed as Flexible Learning contracts are subject to tax and benefits deductions.

Teaching Excellence in Open Education Employee Excellence Award – OPEN

BCIT’s Employee Excellence Awards added a new category starting in 2022: Teaching Excellence in Open Education. Nominations are now open for 2025.

Award Criteria

  • The award recognizes teaching excellence in open education by meeting one or more of the following during the past year (April through March):
  • Improves teaching efficiency and effectiveness through using, augmenting, and evolving OER course materials aligned to course learning outcomes.
  • Develops Open Educational Resources (OER) to share with colleagues, enhance student-learning opportunities, and reduce barriers to education.
  • Uses Open Educational Practices (OEP) for learning, teaching, and assessment while challenging, supporting, and inspiring students to do their best work.
  • Demonstrates creativity and passion in delivering educational experiences that expand student reach and influence beyond the classroom by providing opportunities for students to collaborate and openly share their work with the wider community.
  • Displays creative and competent use of educational technology to enhance learning experiences with OER and OEP
  • Demonstrates knowledge of and passion for open education and the benefits it brings to learning and teaching while contributing to the ongoing work to make the global open education movement inclusive and fair.
  • Works collaboratively with BCIT colleagues and students on open education initiatives, aimed at integrating Open Educational Practices into teaching and learning.
  • Acts as a valuable resource for students, colleagues, and BCIT by sharing open education knowledge and promoting and encouraging the development and use of OER and OEP.
  • Participates beyond BCIT in open education initiatives such as sharing OER, contributing to OE committees/communities of practice, and pursuing or providing PD opportunities in open education

Nominations for the Employee Excellence Awards 2025 are now open! The deadline to submit nominations is March 1st, 2025 at 11:59 PM. Please direct any questions to our Employee Recognition Team at employee_recognition@bcit.ca.