As higher education seeks to innovative ways to reduce student costs while maintaining academic quality, artificial intelligence is emerging as a powerful tool for accelerating Open Educational Resource (OER) development. This panel presentation will showcase Hillsborough College's award-winning AI OER Creation Program, one of the first institutional initiatives in the nation designed to help faculty create and adapt open textbooks using generative AI while maintaining faculty governance, accessibility, quality assurance, and open licensing principles. The program provides faculty with AI tools, Pressbooks publishing support, accessibility resources, and structured project management to develop Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) courses and degree pathways.
Panelists will discuss the program's development, faculty support model, AI-assisted textbook creation workflow, accessibility and copyright considerations, and the measurable impact on student affordability and institutional capacity. Attendees will explore real-world examples of AI-generated and faculty-reviewed OER projects, learn how AI can accelerate the creation of textbooks, multimedia content, and interactive learning activities, and gain practical strategies for implementing responsible AI-supported OER initiatives at their own institutions. Participants will leave with a framework for balancing innovation, academic rigor, and affordability while expanding access to high-quality learning resources.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the key components of an institutional AI OER Creation Program, including faculty support structures, governance practices, accessibility requirements, and open licensing considerations.
- Identify practical workflows and AI tools that can accelerate the development of open textbooks, multimedia resources, and interactive learning materials while maintaining faculty oversight and academic quality.
- Develop an action plan for implementing or scaling AI-assisted OER initiatives that support Zero Textbook Cost courses and degree pathways while improving student access and affordability.