What is a VPAT? A Quick Guide for Postsecondary Institutions
As digital accessibility continues to move to the forefront of education policy and legislation, it’s more important than ever for institutions to understand the tools and documentation that help ensure inclusive learning environments. One of those tools is the VPAT, or Voluntary Product Accessibility Template—a critical document for evaluating the accessibility of digital tools and platforms. This blog is your quick introduction to VPATs. In a follow-up post, we’ll dive into why VPATs are especially important for educational institutions. What is a VPAT? A VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) is a standardized document that helps organizations evaluate how well a..
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What is a VPAT? A Quick Guide for Postsecondary Institutions
As digital accessibility continues to move to the forefront of education policy and legislation, it’s more important than ever for institutions to understand the tools and documentation that help ensure inclusive learning environments. One of those tools is the VPAT, or Voluntary Product Accessibility Template—a critical document for evaluating the accessibility of digital tools and platforms. This blog is your quick introduction to VPATs. In a follow-up post, we’ll dive into why VPATs are especially important for educational institutions. What is a VPAT? A VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) is a standardized document that helps organizations evaluate how well a..
Adaptation in Action: Voices from the ROTEL Project
Over the past three years, the ROTEL (Remixing Open Textbooks through an Equity Lens) project has supported faculty across Massachusetts as they reimagined course materials to better serve their students. Through professional development, peer support, and a strong equity focus, ROTEL helped over 70 educators adapt and remix open educational resources (OER) — and publish 27 new textbooks along the way. At the heart of this effort was the Open Publishing Project Certificate (OPC) (formerly known as the Textbook Success Program). Designed and delivered by the Rebus Foundation, this year-long program offered instruction, facilitation, and space for reflection — not..
Making OER Work for All: Faculty Insights on Remixing for Relevance
In a recent webinar we ran in partnership with the ROTEL project, faculty from Massachusetts public colleges shared how they’re remixing open textbooks to better reflect their students’ lived experiences, learning needs, and local contexts. Their adaptations go beyond surface-level edits. They represent deep, thoughtful work towards more just and inclusive teaching. Here are some of the key themes and takeaways from that conversation. 🔁 Remixing as an Act of Inclusion For ROTEL faculty, remixing OER isn’t just about convenience — it’s about conscience. As Joan Giovannini shared: “You know when you’re teaching and you feel like the book doesn’t..
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Elementor #36823
Interactive Learning Materials: Why They Matter to Learners
Students today expect more than static, text-heavy materials. With shorter attention spans and a preference for engaging, dynamic content, traditional textbooks often fall short. To keep learners actively involved, educators must embrace interactive learning materials that go beyond simple digital distribution. By integrating multimedia, quizzes, simulations, and immediate feedback, interactive materials transform learning from passive reading into an active, immersive experience. What are Interactive Learning Materials? Digital materials make interactivity possible Interactive books are more than scanned books distributed digitally. They are web-first materials that incorporate the rich capabilities of digital technology, including multimedia content, quizzes, interactive graphics, immediate feedback..
Open Education Week 2025 at Pressbooks
Open Education Week 2025 at Pressbooks Open Education Week is a global event organized by Open Education Global to highlight the power of open education, its benefits, and its impact on learning worldwide. Pressbooks is excited to host three dynamic sessions exploring interactive learning, OER adoption, and scaling institutional open publishing programs. Join Us for Open Education Week Attend these Pressbooks-hosted webinars Creating Engaging and Interactive Learning Experiences with Pressbooks + H5P Monday, March 3rd, at 2pm Eastern Come learn how to create engaging learning materials in Pressbooks with social annotation, inline quizzes, and formative assessments. We’ll also demo how ..
A Parent’s Take on College Textbook Costs
This year has been momentous for my family and me, as our twin boys graduated high school and started college. These are exciting milestones for any family. For me, having worked in higher education technology for over two decades, there is a noteworthy twist. I’m now encountering higher education in a new capacity, not as a student or as a technology provider, but as a parent of students who are navigating higher education systems and experiences for the first time. And I’m all too familiar with one of the common pitfalls of this new-to-college onramp: the textbook affordability crisis. My..