Instructors have many options available when they select course materials each term. As you select materials for the upcoming term, will you participate in the Course Materials Initiative (CMI), incorporate technology tools, or adopt Open Educational Resources (OER)? 

Course Materials Initiative

The Course Materials Initiative (CMI) provides access to digital course materials through Blackboard. The digital course materials include ebooks and courseware such as WebAssign, MindTap and ALEKS, if applicable, from publishers under contract with UMBC. The course materials are integrated into Blackboard via VitalSource (the common digital platform) for all participating courses and sections. A course materials charge is included on the student bill when they have registered for a participating course or, for some courses, after the CMI Status Change Deadline. Students can elect not to participate in CMI and obtain their own access to materials.

For more information about the Course Materials Initiative program, please contact Jocelyn Ochoa-Garcia (ochoa1@umbc.edu) at the UMBC Bookstore.

Technology Tools

Blackboard supports a variety of third-party tools through Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) integrations. These integrations support single-sign on between third-party content or services and improve instructor/student efficiency by streamlining usage or synchronizing grades. In addition to publisher tools, instructors may incorporate content using CourseArc, Google, Library Reserves, Microsoft, Panopto, Poll Everywhere, and VoiceThread. 

Occasionally, instructors may have an interest in integrating a new technology in their Blackboard courses. New integrations must be reviewed through a formal Procurement process to ensure the tool meets standards for security, privacy, data retention, and accessibility, even if the technology does not have any associated financial cost. As a reminder, students should only access technologies via SSO or LTI integrations in Blackboard to remain in compliance with UMBC cloud computing requirements. 

Request support with technology tools:

• How do I request a new tool or integration for Blackboard?

• Consult with Instructional Technology

Open Educational Resources (OER)

Open Educational Resources are teaching, learning, and research materials in any medium (digital or otherwise) that are released under an open license that permits no-cost or low-cost access, use, adaptation, or redistribution (UNESCO, 2002). OER can include textbooks, syllabi, supplementary materials, quizzes, assessment rubrics, homework, or labs. 

Explore how you can adopt OERs for your course:

• Follow the Open Educational Resources group on myUMBC 

• Explore the M.O.S.T. OER Commons

• Check out the OER research guide

Contact OER co-chairs Erin Durham (edurham@umbc.edu) or Susan Biro (sbiro@umbc.edu) for more information on OER at UMBC.

Reminders

Course material adoptions for Summer/Fall are due the third Friday in March. Summer and fall textbook adoptions should be submitted by April 24th to permit compliance with USM Board of Regents policy. For inquiries related to course materials, contact textbook@umbc.edu.

Connect with Instructional Technology

• Check our extensive FAQ collection 
• What's new in Ultra? | Known Issues 
• Open a ticket via RT
• Follow the Instructional Technology & DoIT myUMBC groups
• Request a consult with instructional technology staff
• PIVOT | Academic Continuity | Keep On Teaching | Student Technology Resources